The holidays are here, and what better way to celebrate than with a little festive math? Inspired by the classic carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas," we’ve put together a playful series of math problems to keep your brain sharp over the holiday season. Gather your family, students, or friends and enjoy solving these holiday-themed puzzles together!
Day 1: A Partridge in a Pear Tree
A partridge in a pear tree costs $20, and the price doubles each day. How much will you spend on the partridge by the 5th day?
(Hint: Use the formula for exponential growth!)
Day 2: Turtle Doves
On the second day, you receive 2 turtle doves. If each dove eats 3 ounces of birdseed per day, how many ounces will they eat in a week?
Day 3: French Hens
Three French hens each lay 2 eggs every day. How many eggs will you have by the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas?
Day 4: Calling Birds
Four calling birds chirp 15 times per minute. If they chirp continuously for an hour, how many chirps will you hear in total?
Day 5: Gold Rings
Five golden rings weigh 2 ounces each. If gold costs $1,500 per ounce, what is the total value of your five rings?
Day 6: Geese-a-Laying
Six geese start laying eggs on day six. If each goose lays one egg every other day, how many eggs will you collect by the 12th day?
Day 7: Swans-a-Swimming
Seven swans can swim 3 laps around a pond in 10 minutes. How many laps will they complete in one hour?
Day 8: Maids-a-Milking
Eight maids are milking cows. If each cow produces 5 gallons of milk per day, how much milk is collected in 3 days?
Day 9: Ladies Dancing
Nine ladies are dancing, each performing a routine that lasts 3 minutes. How many routines can they complete in 2 hours?
Day 10: Lords-a-Leaping
Ten lords leap in a sequence: each leap is 2 feet longer than the previous one, starting at 5 feet. How far does the 10th leap measure?
Day 11: Pipers Piping
Eleven pipers each play 8 notes in a sequence. If they repeat this sequence 12 times, how many notes are played in total?
Day 12: Drummers Drumming
Twelve drummers each drum at a rate of 2 beats per second. How many beats are played in 5 minutes?
Share Your Results!
Did you solve all the problems? Bring your answers in to the center by January 4th, 2025 to collect a reward for participating in our Twelve Days of Math-mas! This fun exercise is a great way to combine holiday cheer with a love for numbers. Happy holidays from all of us at Mathnasium of Park City!
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