Word Problem Wednesday: Wake Up Call for Elementary School Math Skills

ROOSTER JOKE ALERT:  If a rooster crowing wakes you up with the sun, when does a duck wake you up?
Answer: At the “quack” of dawn!

Do you prefer an alarm clock or a duck waking you up? This week’s word problem challenge will give you a chance to answer that question AND practice your elementary school math skill such as division and fractions.

Don't forget to check back to find out the answer!

Challenge: One farmer sleeps through his alarm clock 3 times every 12 days. Another farmer has a duck that wakes him up 2 out of every 3 days by quacking. Which wakeup method is more effective, the alarm clock or the duck?

Solution: Since the farmer sleeps through his alarm 3 times every 12 days, he wakes up to his alarm clock 9 times every 12 days. So, the alarm clock is successful 9 ÷ 12 = ¾ of the mornings it’s used. The duck wakes up the farmer 2 ÷ 3 = â…” of the mornings it quacks. Since ¾ is more than â…”, the alarm clock is more effective than the duck.