Title: Do you think this is a reasonable math prbolem for a 4th grader? Source:
[None] URL Source:[None] Published:May 24, 2016 Author:me Post Date:2016-05-24 16:48:35 by no gnu taxes Keywords:None Views:1807 Comments:30
John saves $1 on day 1, $3 on day 2, $6 dollars on day 3, 10 dollars on day 4 and so on.
Given this pattern, how long will it take John to save $165?
This seems like at the very least a 7th grade problem.
The sum of numbers starting with 1, 1+2=3, 3+3=6, 6+4=10, 10+5=15, etc. etc. That is an inelegant way for solve the problem that was proposed using just arithmetic. There is a more elegant algebraic approach using mathematics. Both are well above 4th grade level expectations.
The sum of numbers starting with 1, 1+2=3, 3+3=6, 6+4=10, 10+5=15, etc. etc. That is an inelegant way for solve the problem that was proposed using just arithmetic. There is a more elegant algebraic approach using mathematics. Both are well above 4th grade level expectations.
I'm certainly not going to through the algebraic manipulations it would take to form an equation. My guess is you would have to solve it like forming the equation for figuring each period payment to pay off an interest loan. You form a general equation, multiply by a factor, and then subtract the original equation. You eliminate all the middle terms, allowing you come up with an equation based on the number of terms.