Word Problem Wednesday: Fly, My Pretties, Fly!

Ding-dong the witch it dead!

Which old witch? The wicked witch!

Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!

When was the last time you watched the 1939 Wizard of Oz? It may be time to revisit it. This week's problem of the week deals with the Wicked Witch of the West's flying monkeys. See if you can figure out how fast they can travel to Oz! Remember to be careful with your units and use your multiplication and division skills to convert. 

Question: A flying monkey can fly 75 miles per hour in still conditions. If the Wicked Witch of the West sends her flying monkeys to fly into the wind towards Oz and they are slowed down by 6,512 feet per minute, then what is the new speed of the flying monkeys?
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.The Wizard of Oz is one because
Because, because, because, because, because
Because of the wonderful things he does
We're off to see the Wizard
The wonderful Wizard of Oz

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Answer: 1 mile per hour
Solution: To solve this problem, we start by converting 6,512 feet per minute to miles per hour. A mile is 5,280 feet, so 6,512 feet is 6,512/5,280 = 11,232/5,280 = 17/30 miles. Next, we find that 17/30 miles per minute × 60 minutes = 74 miles per hour. So, the flying monkey’s speed is 75 – 74 = 1 mile per hour.

If you need help understanding this, let us know! Give us a call at Mathnasium of Cave Creek at (602) 313-0901, email us at [email protected] or stop by the center! There's no need to go looking for a wizard to help you! Our instructors are math wizards! And don't worry - there's no man behind the curtain here. 

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