Quandaries and Queries
HI, MY NAME IS LISA. I AM THE MOTHER OF SAMANTHA WHO IS IN 5TH GRADE. OUR PROBLEM SOUNDS PRETTY SIMPLE, BUT THE TEACHER HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER THEN EVERYONE ELSE I HAVE PRESENTED THE QUESTION TO.
PROBLEM:
A WORM IS AT THE BOTTOM OF A 10 FOOT HILL. HE CRAWLS UP THE HILL 4 1/2 FEET A DAY. AT NIGHT WHEN HE REST HE SLIDES DOWN 2 1/2. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THE WORM TO CRAWL UP THE HILL.
THANK YOU,
Hi Lisa,
I would construct a table to keep track of where the worm is every day, first at sunrise and then at sunset.
| Day | Sunrise | Day Crawl up | Sunset | Night Slide down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bottom of the hill | 4 1/2 feet | 4 1/2 feet up the hill | 2 1/2 feet |
| 2 | 2 feet up the hill | 4 1/2 feet | 6 1/2 feet up the hill | 2 1/2 feet |
| 3 | 4 feet up the hill | 4 1/2 feet | 8 1/2 feet up the hill | 2 1/2 feet |
When is the first time the worm is over the top of the hill so that he doesn't slide back down?
CheersPenny