DAY/DYDD/PÄIVÄ/NAP 55

The Main Challenge

‘Can You Pass A Simple Math Test?’ was published in the USA in an attempt to emphasise the importance of adult numeracy skills. It contains five multiple choice questions.

Simply answer a, b, c or d each time:

1. How many seconds are in 2 hours?   a)8,300  b)7,200  c)3,600  d)9,000
2. What is (4×5)+(7–18÷3)?   a)42  b)74  c)23  d)21
3. Calculate 235×13.   a)3,125  b)3,055  c)3,575  d)3,315
4. If c+d=d, what must the value of c equal?   a)1  b)0.5  c)0  d)–1
5. Which decimal number is equivalent to 3/5?   a)0.35  b)0.53  c)0.6  d)0.3

The 7puzzle Challenge

The playing board of the 7puzzle game is a 7-by-7 grid of 49 different numbers, ranging from 2 up to 84.

The 1st & 5th rows contain the following fourteen numbers:

2   6   7   9   14   15   16   21   22   40   50   72   81   84

What is the sum of the multiples of 9?

The Lagrange Challenge

Lagrange’s Four-Square Theorem states that every positive integer can be made by adding up to four square numbers.

For example, 7 can be made by 2²+1²+1²+1² (or 4+1+1+1).

There are THREE ways of making 55 when using Lagrange’s Theorem. Can you find them?

Can you arrive at 55 by inserting 2, 5, 10 and 15 into the gaps on each line?

•  ◯×◯–◯×◯ = 55
•  (◯+◯)×◯+◯ = 55
•  (◯+◯)×◯–◯ = 55
•  (◯–◯)×◯+◯ = 55
•  (◯–◯)×◯–◯ = 55

Answers can be found here.

Click Paul Godding for details of online maths tuition.