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Number Problems and Solutions Guide

The document contains 3 math word problems involving numbers of birds, heads, legs, wood chopping, and time. The first problem asks how many birds were flying given information about their greeting. The second problem asks how many birds and hares were killed given the number of heads and legs counted. The third problem asks how long it would take a boy alone to chop a pile of wood based on information about a man chopping wood for some time alone and then with the boy's help.

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Hasani Oriel Maphophe
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11 views4 pages

Number Problems and Solutions Guide

The document contains 3 math word problems involving numbers of birds, heads, legs, wood chopping, and time. The first problem asks how many birds were flying given information about their greeting. The second problem asks how many birds and hares were killed given the number of heads and legs counted. The third problem asks how long it would take a boy alone to chop a pile of wood based on information about a man chopping wood for some time alone and then with the boy's help.

Uploaded by

Hasani Oriel Maphophe
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PROBLEMS INVOLVING NUMBERS

PROBLEM 1

Some birds were flying and met a bird on their way. The bird greeted them; hello hundred! They said we
are not hundred; we need half of us plus you to make us hundred. How many birds were flying?

Possible answers:

A. 198

B. 49

C. 66

D. 51

E. 101

F. 199

Show me the answer.

SOLUTION

Let the number of birds be x

Then half the number of birds will be

Then, x + + 1 = 100

2x + x + 2 = 200 (Multiply both sides by 2)

2x + x = 200 – 2 (Transfer numerals to RHS)

3x = 198 (Collect like terms)

x = 66 (Divide throughout by 3)

Therefore, the correct answer is C

[Link] Page 1 of 4 @ Macefits Consulting Services CC


PROBLEMS INVOLVING NUMBERS
PROBLEM 2

A master and his servant went to the forest to hunt birds and hares.

After killing a number of birds and hares, the master asked the servant:

“How many birds and hares do you count?”

The servant replied: “I count six heads and sixteen legs.”

How many birds and hares were killed?

SOLUTION

METHOD 1

Let the number of birds be x

Then the number of hares will be (6 – x)

(A the total number of heads is six, it means that there are 6 animals)

Therefore,

2x+ 4(6 – x) = 16 (A bird has 2 legs and a hare has 4 legs)

2x + 24 – 4x = 16 (Remove brackets)

2x – 4x = 16 – 24 (Take numerals to RHS)

-2x = - 8 (Collect like terms)

x=4 (Divide throughout by -2)

(6 – x ) = 6 – 4

=2

Therefore, 4 birds and 2 hares were killed

[Link] Page 2 of 4 @ Macefits Consulting Services CC


PROBLEMS INVOLVING NUMBERS
SOLUTION

METHOD 2

Let the number of birds be x ; and

The number of hares be y

Therefore, x+ y = 6 ……….(1)

(There are six animals)

2x + 4y = 16 ……….(2)

(A bird has 2 legs and a hare has 4 legs and there are 16 legs altogethe

x+ 2y = 8 ……….(3)

(Divide throughout by 2)

(3)-(1): y=2 ……….(4)

Substitute y = 2 from (4) in (1):

x+2=6

Therefore, x=4

Therefore, 4 birds and 2 hares were killed

[Link] Page 3 of 4 @ Macefits Consulting Services CC


PROBLEMS INVOLVING NUMBERS
PROBLEM 3

A man has a pile of wood to chop which will give him six hours’ work. After chopping for two hours, he
gets the help of a boy and together, they finish in another two hours. How long would it take the boy
alone to chop the pile of wood?

Possible answers:

A. 5 hours

B. 8 hours

C. 9 hours

D. 11 hours

E. 12 hours

F. 18 hours

Show me the answer.

SOLUTION

Let the boy finish chopping a pile of wood in x hours,

Therefore in 1 hour, he would have chopped

In 6 hours, a man finishes chopping a pile of wood.

Therefore in 1 hour, would have chopped

But in 2 hours, the man has finished

So the outstanding portion of wood to be chopped is

Together in 3 hours, the man and the boy: 3( + ) =

Multiply throughout by 6x: Therefore, 18 + 3x = 4x

Therefore x = 18

Therefore it would have taken the boy 18 hours to finish chopping a pile of wood. Option F is the
correct answer.

[Link] Page 4 of 4 @ Macefits Consulting Services CC

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