Problem Solving By Iris Agredano EDC 460 Math

Problem Solving By: Iris Agredano EDC 460 Math and Science for Young Children Fresno Pacific University

Everyday Math Practice

CORI THE CAMEL • Cori is a camel who can only transport 1, 000 bananas • Her destination is 1, 000 miles away from home • She must eat 1 banana every mile to keep her energy going. • Cori arrives with zero bananas ! • 1, 000 bananas – ( 1 banana per miles x 1, 000 miles) = 0 bananas

Ten Pennies Puzzle v. Move the top penny (red) to the bottom v. Then move the two corner pennies (blue and green) which is now the bottom second row of the triangle, to the top v. Now, we have 4 pennies on top and 1 on the bottom. v. This was done with simply 3 moves!

Toothpick Triangle • The first triangle needs 3 toothpicks • The other triangles only need 2 toothpicks • Therefore, • 99 triangle x 2 toothpicks=198 toothpicks • 198 toothpicks + 3 more from the first triangle =202 toothpicks to make 100 triangles

Coin Machine • 2 Nickels + 15 pennies = 25 cents using only 17 coins • 4 Nickels + 5 pennies= 25 cents using 9 coins • 2 Dimes + 1 Nickels + 5 pennies= 25 cents 8 coins • 5 Nickels = 25 cents using 5 coins • 25 pennies = 25 cents using 25 coins • 1 quarter = 25 cents using 1 coin

Brain Teaser Write the numbers from 1 through 19 in the circles so that the numbers in every 3 circles on a straight line total 30. • Solution: There are 9 pairs of numbers that total 20 (1+19, 2+18, 3+17, 4+16, and so forth!) There is 19 ways the pinwheel makes 30 (19+10+1, 18+10+2, 17+10+3, 16+10+4, 15+10+5, and so on)

Reference • Shaw, J. M. , & Blake, S. (1998). Mathematics for young children. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.