Lower Elementary:
Question: Ryan buys three candy bars for 99¢ each. If he pays with a 5-dollar bill, how much change would he get back?
Answer: $2.03
Solution: First, let’s find out how much the three candy bars cost altogether. Add 99, three times. 99 + 99 + 99 = 100 + 100 + 100 – 1 – 1 – 1 = 297. The three candy bars cost 297¢ = $2.97. To find how much change Ryan would get back, subtract $2.97 from $5.00. $5.00 – $2.97 = $2.03. Ryan would get $2.03 change back.
Upper Elementary:
Question: Morgan is making a milkshake. She blends 1½ cups of milk, 2/3 cups of chocolate ice cream, and 1/6 a cup of chocolate syrup. How many cups of milkshake did Morgan make?
Answer: 2 1/3
Solution: Add the fractional parts used to make the milkshake together to see how many total cups of milkshake there are. In order to add the fractions, they all have to have the same denominator, or the same name. So we will find equivalent fractions so we can add them.
1½ = 1 3/6
2/3 = 4/6
1/6
Now that all the fractions have the same name, we can add them.
1 3/6 + 4/6 + 1/6 = 1 8/6 = 2 2/6 = 2 1/3
The milkshake contains 2 1/3 cups of ingredients.
Middle School:
Question: To convert temperatures from Celsius to Kelvin, add 273 to the temperature. In an experiment, a scientist has a chemical that is at 20°C and is then chilled up until it freezes. The scientist chilled the chemical by 87°C before it froze. What was the temperature, in Kelvin, at which the chemical froze?
Answer: 206 Kelvin
Solution: First, let’s find the temperature at which the chemical froze. 20°C – 87°C = –67°C. To convert from Celsius to Kelvin, add 273. –67 + 273 = 273 – 67 = 206. The chemical froze at 206 Kelvin.
Algebra and Up:
Question: Owen counted the number of gummy bears in 5 bags. The average number of gummy bears in those 5 bags was 16. If Owen counts 22 gummy bears in a 6th bag, what is the average number of gummy bears in the 6 bags?
Answer: 17 gummy bears
Solution: To find the average, we need to find the total number of gummy bears in all 6 bags and then divide by the total number of bags (6). The average of the first 5 bags is 16. That means that the total number of gummy bears in the first 5 bags, divided by 5, is 16. So we need to find what number, divided by 5, is 16? 80 divided by 5 is 16, so the total number of gummy bears in the first 5 bags is 80. The 6th bag has 22, so the total number of gummy bears in the 6 bags is 102. Divide 102 by 6 to get the average number of gummy bears in the 6 bags. 102 ÷ 6 = 17.
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