There is a special organization called Mensa. Its members are people who like problem solving - not just any old ordinary problem, but rather one that takes a little extra thinking and creativity to solve.
The problem this week is similar to one that appeared on a calendar published by Mensa a few years ago. To solve it, you need to look carefully at the items being listed, then think very hard. When you see the clue, the problem is very easy.
The Mensa toy store is having a special sale of used toys. Everybody is confused about the prices. At this sale, a train costs $22, a cart costs $17, and a ball costs $17. How much would a shovel (the kind a child might use at the beach) cost under the Mensa system of setting prices? What would a truck cost?
Please explain clearly how you arrive at your solution. Now write one equation (nope not y = mx + b,) that would allow you to find the price of any toy you can think of in the Mensa toy store. Explain your equation and what your variable(s) represent.
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Skr
ReplyDeleteY=5x+17. y=cost x= vowel -1 17= if it was 1 vowel. Shovel= $22. Truck= $17
S.A
ReplyDeleteShovel 22$
Truck 17$
c = 5v+12
c=cost
V= vowel
This equation means for every vowel in word its 5$ plus 12
Skr
ReplyDeleteIt is $12 first then $5 per next vowel
C=5v+12
C=cost v=vowel 12=cost befor the vowels
Truck=$17
Shovel= $22
JDS:
ReplyDeleteTruck costs 17 $
Shovel costs 22$
A word with one vowel equals 17$ and a word with two vowels equals 22$
Equation: C=5V+12
C=cost
V=vowel
My equation means that cost is the number of vowels times five plus 12
I used my equation to solve the problem. I used it by plugging the number of vowels and I got the awnsers.
i got the awnser because i followed the process of my equation.
MNH
ReplyDelete1. Cost of shovel: The shovel would cost $22.00 because it has two vowels anything with two vowels in the word costs $22.00 and anything with one costs $17.00.
2. Equation: C=5V+12
C= cost
V= Vowel
I used the equation to find the answer. I plugged in the # of vowels and got the answer.
Skr
ReplyDeleteIt is $12 first then $5 per next vowel
C=5v+12
C=cost v=vowel 12=cost before the vowels
Truck=$17
Shovel= $22
I used my equation et my answer. I plugged in the number of vowels to get my answer
JED
ReplyDelete1 vowel= $17 plus $5 per next vowel
C=5v+12
C= cost
V= vowel
SHOVEL=$22
TRUCK=$17
I used the equation get my answer. I plugged in the number of vowels to get the answer.
A shovel would cost $22. A truck would cost $17. I figure it may be the number vowels in the word. Both cart and ball have one vowel, and they both cost 17 dollars. Train has two vowels, and it costs 5 dollars more than cart and ball. An equation to fit this theory (it’s probably wrong) is c (cost) = (v (vowel) *5) + 17. This means that the base cost is 17 if only one vowel, plus 5 dollars for every other vowel.
ReplyDeleteE.I.D.
H.H Shovel=$26
ReplyDeleteTruck=$21
C=$5v+$4c C=Cost v=vowel c=Consonant. This equation is the total cost for the toys.
S.A
ReplyDeleteanother estimation or posable outcome
Shovel 26$
Truck 21$
C=v5+c4
C= cost
V=vowel
C=consonant
So this means for every vowel in word its 5$ and for every consonant it cost 4$
JDS: truck is 17 dollars
ReplyDeleteShovel is 22 dollars
Equation: C=V5+4S
C=cost
V= number of vowels in word
S=number of continents in word
my equation means that the number of vowels times 5 because each vowel equals 5 dollars. Then you add the number of continents in the word times 4 because each continent equals 4. that will get you the cost of each toy.
I solved my problem with the equation. I used the equation by plugging in my number of vowels and continents and multiplying them by the right n number.
Well I was thinking that the amount of letters in the word had something so I know that there are five letters so I did 22 divided 5 into 22 to get 4.4.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the equation c=5x+12.
Vowel equals 5.
Contestants equals 4.
So the equation is t=5v+4c
Truck-21$
Shovel-26$ JBR
MJH
ReplyDeleteVowels are worth $5, and Consonants are worth $4.
A Shovel would be worth $26.
A Truck would be worth $21.
T=5V+4C. T=Total Cost, V=Vowels, C=Consonants.
NPH
ReplyDeleteConstants are 4 dollars, vowels are 5.
Truck: $21
Shovel: $26
T=5v+4C
S.G.
ReplyDeleteC=Cost V=Vowel
A shovel would cost $22. A truck would cost $17. I think that it’s all about the number of vowels in a word. Cart and Ball both have one vowel, and they also both cost $17. Cart and Ball are both $5 less than the train, and the train has two dollars. The appropriate Equation to fit this thought, is c=v5+17. The cost of one vowel, is $17, plus $5 for every other vowel.
M.D., S.S., B.H.
ReplyDeleteFirst, we thought that each letter had some kind of point value. But then we realized, from our teacher talking, to the actual math of it all, that we were wrong with that idea. And then we figured out that ball and cart we both worth the same amount. Ball and cart both have the same vowel in the same place. That gave us a lot of ideas. Our teacher had said that truck and train were not worth the same, and we put together that truck and train both have different vowels in different places. So we knew we were on the right track. Also, our teacher told us that the equation had something to do with vowels and another factor that we have yet to figure out. Never mind! We just found out that it has to do with amount of vowels and consonants. Okay, we got it! Each vowel is worth 5 dollars, and each consonant is worth 4. That means that the equation would be X=5V+4C. That means that the total (X) is 5 times the number of vowels (V) plus 4 times the number of consonants (C).
MN: The shovel would cost $26 because for each vowel it would cost $5 and for each consonant it would cost $4. The truck would cost $21. The equation would b something like 5v + 4c = c.
ReplyDeleteJL IN HONORS
ReplyDeleteA shovel would cost $26 because there are four consonants and two vowels.
A truck would cost $21 because there are four consonants and one vowel.
A=5V+4C
A.B.
ReplyDeleteIf the train costs $22, and the ball and cart costs $17, then the shovel would cost $26 and the truck would cost $21. We got this by using the equation 4C+5V=T. To double check, we plugged in the cost of the ball, train and cart. All our answers were the exact same as the cost.
Equations: 4*3+5*2=22 (cart and ball)
4*3+5*1=17 (train)
4*4+5*2=26 (shovel)
4*4+5*1= 21 (truck)
After thinking the entire class period, we realized that we skimmed the answer, but at first we thought it was wrong.
J.H.
ReplyDeleteThe train costs $22, and the ball and cart cost $17, then the shovel would be $26 and the truck would be $21. My equation is 4C+5V=T. To make sure this was right we added in the ball, train, and the cart. One example:
This is the trains:
3*4=12
2*5=10
10+12= 22
This works for every single toy to get the price of every one.
BS
ReplyDelete-I have tried the number of letters.
-ball and carts both = # of letters + # of consonants.
-train = #of letters-# of consonants.
-Or an amount of money for each vowel.
A =17
E =
I = 5
O =
U =
Because train = a + I.
And ball and cart = a so a has to be 17.
A.M.
ReplyDeleteIf the ball and cart cost $17 and the train cost $22, the cost of the truck would be $21 and the shovel would be $26. We found this using 5v+4c=t. To make sure we put the ball, train, and cart in the equation. They all worked.
5*1+ 4*3= $17 for the Cart
5*1+ 4*3= $17 for the Ball
5*2+ 4*3= $22 for the Train
5*2+ 4*4= $26 for the Shovel
5*1+ 4*4= $21 for the Truck.
P.M.
ReplyDeleteMy equation is $4x + $5b = y. x is the number of consonants in the name of the toy. B is the number of vowels. If you use the equation for train, it is (3 X $4) + ($5 X 2) = $22. If you use it for cart or ball, it comes out as $17. This is because cart and ball both have 3 consonants and 1 vowel. So, if you “plug” shovel into $4x + $5b = y, then you get $26. This is because shovel has 4 consonants and 2 vowels. Truck comes out as $21.