Problem+of+the+Week

How would you solve this problem? Please post your ideas!

Metuchen response are in green

Boston responses are in blue.





The other night as I got off the scale, the children asked if they could weigh themselves.  "Of course," I said. "I'm sure you won't break the scale, although if I don't slim down soon, I might!" || "Did you weigh yourselves?" I asked. "Yes..." the three said, giggling.  "Well, how much do you weigh?" I asked. "More than you if we all weigh together!" They laughed. "Seriously, Aunt Mathilda, we have a math challenge for you. See if you can figure out what we each weigh from these clues." "Well, O.K." I grumbled. "Maybe it will take my mind off that apple pie in the refrigerator."  Barney started. ||
 * Did you make any New Year's resolutions? I made the same one I make each year - to lose some weight! My nephews, Barney and Danny, and my niece, Gina, are very supportive, I must say. They eat up all my treats so I won't be tempted by them!
 * I don't know if it was my comment about breaking the scale, or if they wanted to take my mind off my dieting struggles, but soon they were in the kitchen with big grins on their faces.

" I weigh the least, because I am the littlest," said Gina helpfully.  "Where did you say that apple pie was?" asked Danny. U. Weigh altogether - 181 pounds 1 off - 119 pounds <span style="color: #008000; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1 more off - 74 pounds *** so 1 weighs 74 pounds <span style="color: #008000; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Gina weighs the least. <span style="color: #0000ff; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">﻿We figured out some things too: We know that we will use subtraction since the amount they weigh together has to be more than each of them weighs. We agree that one weighs 74 pounds.
 * [[image:http://www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org/aunty/images/1_7_07/scale.gif height="191"]] || <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"We all got on the scale together and we weighed 181 pounds. Then one of us got off and the scale read 119 pounds. Then another one of us got off and the scale read 74 pounds. When I got off, the scale returned to zero."

<span style="color: #0000ff; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Here are our number sentences so far: <span style="color: #0000ff; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">181- ? =119 <span style="color: #0000ff; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">﻿119- ? = 74

<span style="color: #0000ff; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We'll be back to work on it soon! <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 119-74= 45 Gina weighs 45 pounds <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 181-62 =119 Danny weighs 62 pounds <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Bernie weighs 74 pounds, because he was on the scale last.

<span style="color: #008000; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">﻿ || <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">As the three enjoyed a piece of pie and a glass of milk, I busied myself with the problem. Do you think I was able to figure out what each of my nephews and my niece weighed? How do you think I did it? How would you do it? When you think you have the correct solution, be sure to show a teacher, parent or friend your work and explain your thinking to them. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tons of love! <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Aunty Math



<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[|I'm a parent/teacher and want to review parent/teacher tips for this challenge!]

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[|Return to Aunty Math's Welcome Page] | <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[|Back to DCM home page]

Aunty Math problems, copyright 2006, Angela G. Andrews You may download, print and make copies of "Aunt Mathilda's Math Challenges" for use in your classroom provided that you include the copyright notice shown on that page with all copies.

<span style="cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[|Site Map] [|Contact DCM] [|Copyright & Linking Policy] [|Privacy Policy] <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Copyright 2005 DuPage Children's Museum. All rights reserved. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[|http://www.DuPagechildrensmuseum.org]