The most economical tin can to Of ten boxes, five contain pencils, What would be the third entry in

manufacture is one that is a right four contain pens, and two contain the 82d row of this triangular
circular cylinder with height equal to both pencils and pens. How many boxes number pattern?
ume of 547t cma.
What is the total
surf~ce area of this
can m cm2?
L1
twice the radius. One such can has a vol-

1
IJ
j'
are empty?
2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9
1

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

4 1918b. Constance Reid, is well How many cards must you draw 6 Suppose you have a collection of 7 If five points are randomly located
known for her bot>ks From Zero to from a deck of fifty-two playing objects in which every nayr is in a regular triangle 1 unit on a
/rifinity, A Long cards to be sure that at least two are blue. Half of the ft'ejs are blue. Half of all side, show that at least two of them
Way from Euclid, from the same suit? the blue objects are nayrs. You have must be at most Y.l unit apart.
Hilbert, Courant in forty ft'ejs and twenty nayrs. How many
Gottingen and New blue objects in the collection are neither
York, and Neyman- nayrs or ft'ejs?
from Life.

8 Three children played a game; two 9 If a unit of length is defined to be 10 1911b. Garrett Birkhoft', a pro- 1 1 The planet of Egram conducts
won and one lost on each play. The the distance, either horizontally or fessor of mathematics at Harvard, maneuvers using all of its
loser had to double the points of each vertically, between two adjacent pegs on has made important contributions in a spaceships, each of which uses the same
winner by subtracting from his or her a square geoboard, how many segments broad range of fields and amount of fuel. Egram uses 287 units of
own points. They played the game three whose endpoints are pegs of length 5 are has written pioneering fuel one day and 492 units of fuel the
times, each winning twice and losing on a five-peg-by-five-peg geoboard? books on topics ranging next day. How many spaceships does
once. At the end, each had forty points. from lattice theory Egram have in the maneuvers?
How many points did each have to start? through mathematical
physics.

12 A grocer features a certain soap 13 When using a base other than 14 Sugar comes in 9-, 2-, and 6-kg 15 A stone is thrown into a cylin-
by stacking the boxes in a pyra- ten, you discover that ~ of 20 is packages and flour comes in 8-, drical water tank 2 feet in di-
mid with a rectangular base (w boxes by 3. If you use this same base, what is ~ of 7-, and 15-kg packages. Also flour sells ameter, causing the water to rise 1.5
z boxes). The next layer is (w-1) boxes 10? for half as much per kg as sugar. If inches. What is the
by (z-1) boxes, and so on, for a total of Marge bought packages of each size but volume of the
ten layers. The top layer consists of one one and stated that the amount of flour stone?
row of six boxes. How many boxes are in that she bought was the same price as
the stack? the amount of sugar she purchased,
which
1& Climbing the giant beanstalk, 1J 7 If the same circle is used, then 18 Luke and Pete are privates 19 The difference between two
Jack discovered that the giant what is the ratio of the area of peeling potatoes at the rate of positive numbers is 4..[S. The
had a numeration system all his own. the circumscribed one per minute each. They start with the product of the two numbers is 4. What is
When the giant counted the golden eggs, square to the area of same number, but after every second one the absolute value of the difference of
Jack heard him count "fee, fie, foe, fum, the inscribed square? he peels, Luke throws one on Pete's pile. their reciprocals?
fot, feefot, fiefot, foefot, fumfot, fotfot, At a certain moment Pete has twice as
feefotfot, ...." What word would the many potatoes still to be peeled as Luke.
giant use to count the twentieth egg? Five minutes later this ratio has in-
creased to 7:3. When will it be 3:1?

20 Laura and Lisa plan a dinner 2 1 How many people must be in a 2 2 Find the unique solution to this 23 For what values does the .j2X
party for which Laura prepares room to be sure that least four crossnumber puzzle. The clues: equal x,fl?
five dishes and Lisa prepares three of them have the same birthday? Across: 1. A Fibonacci number;
dishes. Jan agrees to join them if she can 2. Asquare; 3. A perfect number
pay for an equal share of the meal. If $4 D(JWn:

add
is an equal share and if each dish is of 1. Asquare
equal value, how should Laura and Lisa 2. A cube
split the $4 so that they also contribute 3. A multiple of
an equal share to the meal? a square
2 4 What is the area of the shaded 2 5 Nikki noticed that if she 2 6 A large grain storage bin in the 27 A pinochle deck contains forty-
portion of the rectangular re- stacked her dollar bills in shape of a right cylinder has a eight cards, two each of the 9
gion? (The nonshaded portion is a stacks of 6, she had 3 bills left over. If diameter of 15 meters and a height of 40 through the ace in the four suits. If two
semicircle.) she made stacks of 8, she had 7 left over; meters. If a bin of equal volume were cards are drawn at random, what is the
and if she made stacks of 5, then 4 were built to the same height, but with a probability that both will be black or
left over. If you knew she had less than square base, what would be the length of both will be kings?
$100, how many bills would be left over if a side of the base?
she made stacks of 7?

28 Jean had two cylindrical cans 29 Given any seven positive inte- 30 Find two numbers between % 3 1 In the figure, triangles WRS,
of sliced fruit. The label on the gers, show that at least two and 1'Vt6 such that when the MRS, and XPM are isosceles
smaller one listed the volume as 513 must exist whose sum or difference is di- four numbers are arranged in order, the right triangles with legs of lengths 1
grams. The label on the larger can was visible by 10. difference between any two consecutive unit, 1 unit, and 7 units, respectively.
destroyed. Jean noticed that the smaller numbers will be the same. How many units x
f:'7
P
can had the same diameter as the larger from vertex W
but that the larger was one-third taller. is vertex P? ~
What was the volume of the larger can?
SM

© National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 22091

 Answers to Calendar
Alternate solution: The total
number of numbers in 81 rows
8 Working backward, the win-
This month's problems 1- 3, 6, ners at each step had their
8- 9, ll- 20, 22- 28, and 30-31 equals the sum 1 + 3 + 5 + ... + points doubled. Therefore, in the
were supplied by William R. (2n - 1), where n = 81. Hence t~e preceding play they had half as
Speer, EDCI-BGSU, Bowling total number of these numbers JS much. The loser at each step had to
Green, OH 43403. Probl~ms 5, 7, 81 2 , or 6561. Add 3 to get the 3d double the points of the other two
21, and 29 were provided by term in the 82d row. players. Therefore, at the preced-
Calvin T. Long, Washin gton
State University, Pullman, WA 4 For more information on ing step the loser had the points he
or she now has plus the two
99164-2930 and r elated to his Constance Reid, see Math-
ematical People: Profiles and In- amounts given away. The table
article in this issue, "On Pi- shows the play working backward.
geons and Problems." terviews, edited by Donald J. Albers
and G. L. Alexanderson (Cam- End of Third Second Firat
bridge, Mass.: Birkhiiuser Boston, play round round round
1985).
Child 1 40 20(W) 70(L) 35(W)
1 54n. 5 5. Since we want two cards Child 2 40 BO(L) 40(W) 20(W)
V = nr2 h to be from the same suit, we Child 3 40 20(W) lO(W) 65(L)
54n = nr2 (2r) should think of the cards as the pi-
geons and the suits as the pigeon-
(Source: Meiring, Steve. Problem
S=r Solving: A Basic Mathematics
h =6 holes. Since there are four different
sui ts, if we choose five cards it fol- Goal. Columbus, Ohio: Ohio De-
C = 2nr = 6n partment of Education.)
lows that at least two must be from
.. , the surface area equals
36n + 9n + 9n, or 54n.
the same s uit. g The five-peg-by-five-peg geo-
board has forty segments of
2 3. Two have pens alone,
6 0. Since aJJ the nayrs are
length 1; thirty segments of length
blue and there are twenty
three have pencils alone, nayrs and half of all the blue ob- 2; twenty segments of length 3; and
and two have pens and pencils. ten segments oflength 4. The pat-
jects are nayrs, then forty objects
Therefore three are left empty. are blue. The "other" twenty blue tern suggests that no segments of
length 5 will occur, but the Pytha-
3 Examining the first entries objects are ffejs, since we are told
that half of the 40 ffejs are blue. So gorean theorem can be used to find
in each row, we see that the eight such segments.
second differences are constant. all the blue objects are either nayrs
Therefore, the function that de- or ffejs. 1Q For more information on
scribes these entries is quadratic.
In general terms,
7 As indicated in the diagram, Garrett Birkhoff, see Math-
ematical People: Profiles and In-
divide the triangle into four
terviews. edited by Donald J. Albers
ax 2 + bx + c = 1 congruent smaller triangles each
with side of length 1/ 2. These are and G. L. Alexanderson (Cam-
when x = 1, bridge, Mass.: Birkhiiuser Boston,
the pigeonholes. Since there are
ax 2 + bx + c"' 2 five points (pigeons), two of them 1985).
when x = 2, must lie in the same small triangle 41, the greatest common di-
and and hence can be no further than 11 visor
ax 2 + bx + c = 5 1/2 unit apart.
when x = 3. 12 660. Following the pattern,
the top layer, which is 6 by
In other words, this system can be 1, can be represented by (w - 9) ·
thought of as the following: (z - 9). Consequently, w is 15 and z
a+b+c = l is 10. The answer can then be
found by summing 15 x 10, 14 x 9,
4a + 2b + c = 2
13 X 8, 12 X 7, 11 X 6, 10 X 5, 9 X 4,
9a + 3b + c"' 5 8 x 3, 7 x 2, and 6 x 1, for a total of
Solving this system of equations, 660. (Source: The Greater Toledo
we have a "' 1, b = -2, and c = 2. Council of Teachers of Mathemat-
Therefore, the 1st term in the 82d ics Mathematics Gontestr-Aigebra
row is x 2 - 2x + 2when x "' 82, II Version)
that is, 6562. So the 3d term in the
82d row is 6564. (Continued on page 36)

The Editorial Panel of the Mathematics Teacher is now considering sets of problems submitted by individuals,
classes of prospective teachers, and mathematics clubs for publication in calendars during the 1988-89 academic
year. Please write to the managing editor. 1906 Association Driue, Reston, VA 22091, for guidelines.
Two other sources of problems in calendar form are available from NCTM: "Calendars for the Calculating" (a
set of nine monthly calendars that originally appeared from September 1983 to May 1984; order number 344,
$5.00) and "A Year of Mathematics" (one school-year calendar that originally appeared in September 1982,·
order number 311, $2.50; set of five for $5.00). Individual members received a 20.percent discount off these prices.

44 - - - -- - - -- - -- - - - - - -- - - - - - - - -- -- - - - Mathematics Teacher
 Answers to Calendar- Continued from page 44
Hills, Calif.: Litton Industries, If n is even, n • 40, so x == 100. If n
13 2. Since l /8 of 20 is 3, then 1970) is odd, n "" 51, so x = 126.
8 x 3 must be 20, or two
groups of the base and no units.
Consequently, the base must be
Solution strategy: Make an or·
ganized list.
(19) Ja.
twelve. Therefore, 1/6 of 10, or 1/6 a- b = 4j3
Number of potatoes
of 12 is 2. ab = 4
Luke Pete
14 The 2-kg package was the
one size not purchased. If
Marge bought one of each size,
1st y-1
y 2y
2y - 1
2y -1
1.!_.!1 1~1 .. ~ .. Ja
a b
=
ab 4

2d y- 3
then she would have 17 kg of ftour
3d y-4 2y- 2 (2Q Since it was agreed that an
and 30 kg of sugar. equal share was $4.00, then
4th y-6 2y- 2
the total value of the dinner must
2y- 3
15 The original volume is 4n(h), 5th y- 1 be $12.00. This means that each
with the height represented 2y - 3 7 dish has a value of$1.50. Since
in feet. The rise, if 1.5 inches, is y-7 = 3 Laura prepared five dishes, she a c-
equivalent to l /8 feet. The new tually contributed $7.50 to t he
y = 40 meal, whereas Lisa, who made
volume is 4n(h + 1/8). The increase
of 4n/8, or n/2, is the volume of the or three dishes, contributed $4.50. To
stone. balance the cost of the meal, Laura
Number of potatoes should get $3.50 and Lisa $0.50.
16 A possible solution: Con- Pete
tinuing the pattern, we have
Luke ~) This solution requires the
twelve-fiefotfot; thirteen- y 2y \f generalized pigeonhole prin·
foefotfot ; fourteen- fumfotfot; 1st y -2 2y ciple. Since we want at least 4
fifteen-fotfotfot; sixteen- 2d y - 3 2y -1 people with the same birthday, we
feefotfotfot; seventeen- 3d y - 5 2y -1 should think of the people as pi-
fiefotfotfot; eighteen- foefotfotfot; 4th y-6 2y-2 geons and the birthdays as pigeon-
nineteen-fumfotfotfot; and 5th y- 8 2y - 2 holes. Thus, for regular years, the
twenty- fotfotfotfot. number needed is at least
2y - 2 7 3 · 365 + 1 = 1096, and for leap
17 2 : l. If the circle has diam- y - 8 =3 years, at least 3 · 366 + 1 = 1099
eter x, then a side of the cir- y= 50 must be present. In a regular year,
cumscribed square is also x in for example, if you had only 1095
length, so the area has a value of Solution strategy: Represent people, they might fall into 365 dif.
x 2 • The length of a side of the in- amounts using the greatest-integer ferent groups of 3 with a different
scribed square is equal to x divided function. birthday for each group. With
by ,/2, giving an area of x 2 divided 1096 = 3 ·365 + 1 people, the extra
by 2. Therefore, the ratio of the x = number of potatoes at start person must fall into one of the 3-
area of the circumscribed square to L. = number of potatoes Luke has person groups, and so at least 4
the area of the inscribed square is 2 after n minutes persons must have the same birth-
to 1.
A computer expansion: For
= X- [3;] day. !<'or a different approach see
"Using a Microcomputer to Simu-
what size regular polygon does the P. = number of potatoes Pete has late the Birthday Coincidence
difference in area between the in- after n minutes Problem " (December 1982).
scribed and circumscribed polygon 3 7 7
first become less than 1/ 10? 1/ 100? =x - [ n;1] 2
18 If Pete has twice as many as
Luke after an odd number of
minutes and this ratio is increased
to 7: 3 in five minutes, they each
X - [ n; 1] 2(
= X - e;]) 2
4
2
9
5
6
(Source: Problematical Recreations.
Beverly Hills, Calif.: Litton Indus-
at some time n. so
must have started with 126 pot- tries, 1970)
atoes (100: 50 after 51 minutes,
98 : 42 after 56 minutes). Likewise,
if Pete has twice as many as Luke
X= 2e ; ] - [ n; 1] 1
231x = 1 or x = 0.
after an even number of minutes,
they must have started with 100 7(x- e(n2+5)] )=a(x-[ n;6]) ?4) We have a rectangle with di-
potatoes each (80: 40 after 40 min- ~ ~ mensions of (2r + r) by 2r, or
utes, 77 : 33 after 45 minutes). In the (five minutes later). Solving for n. an area of 6r2 • The semicircle has
first instance, the ratio will never an area of nr 2f2.
be 3 : 1. In the second case, this
ratio occurs after another five min- 8e;J+ a[n; 6] 6r
2
- G)nr 2

utes, at which time they have 75

and 25 potatoes left. (Source: Prob-
lematical Recreations. Beverly 1
.. 4e ; 1 + 7en ; 15] (Source: Meiring, Steven. Second-
ary Math Monograph Series, No. 2.

36 ----------------------------------------- Mathematics Teacher

Columbus, Ohio: Ohio Department drawing two black kings is 3/564. (0) = (10, 20, 30, ... ), (1, 9)
of Education, 1984) Hence, the solution is
= (1, 9, 11, 19, 21, 29, ... ),
25 Let x represent the number 23 7 3 149
and so on. Since there are seven
of bills. If xis divided by 5, 94+282-564=564'
leaving a remainder of 4, then x integers (pigeons) and only six
pigeonholes, two integers must lie
must have a units digit of 4 or 9. 28) 683. The volume of a cylin-
in the same pigeonhole. But then
Since x divided by 8 leaves a re- der is given by nr 2 h. If this
mainder of7, then x + 1 must be they must have the same units
expression is used to represent the
divisible by 8. Since x divided by 6 digits or units digits that add to 10.
volume of the smaller cylinder,
leaves a remainder of 3, x must be Thus, their difference or sum must
then the larger cylinder would
divisible by 3. The only number be divisible by 10.
have a volume of nr2 (h + h/ 3) =
less than 100 that meets these con· nr 2 h + ((n)r2 h)/ 3 = 513 + 513/3, or
ditions is 39. 683.
30 14/ 15 and 1 1/5. 2/ 3 = 10/ 15
and 1 7/ 15 = 22/15, so the dif-
This problem could also be
ference is 12/ 15. Dividing by 3, we
solved by making a list of the 29 The difference between two
get 4/ 15 as the interval, so the two
multiples of 8 with 7 added to them integers is divisible by 10 if
numbers are 14/ 15 and 18/ 15, or
and then checking that list against and only ifthey have the same
14/ 16 and 1 1/5.
multiples of 5 with 4 added on and units digit. The sum of two integers
multiples of6 with 3 added on. Stu-
dents might also be encouraged to
is divisible by 10 if and only if their
units digits are both 0 or the sum
G1Y'\ TWhetohorizontal distance from
Pis 8 units and the ver-
solve this problem using a com· of the units digits is 10. Thus, con-
tical distance is 6 units. These
puter. sider the six sets (pigeonholes) in·
amounts form the legs of a right
dicated by the following numbers
26 n(7.5) 2 (40) = 40x 2, or x 2 = or pairs of numbers:
triangle whose hypotenuse is the
distance from W to P. Therefore,
(7.6) 2 n. Therefore, x = 7.5.
(0), (1, 9), (2, 8), (3, 7), (4, 6), (5) the distance from W to P can be
27 The probability of drawing found by the Pythagorean theorem
two black cards is 23/ 94. An integer is in a set if and only if to be 10 units. (Source: The Na-
The probability of drawing two its units digit is in the designation tional Longitudinal Study of Math·
kings is 7/ 282. The probability of of the set. Thus, ematical Abilities)

S ·
· ....
....
....
....
~ca~
=- -
=m

••

January 1988-. ---------------------------------------- 37