Friday Funny: Solution to Tables, Baskets and Shirts algebra maths puzzle

It is time to post the solution to the Tables, Baskets and Shirts algebra maths puzzle that was posted earlier this month.

If you have not had a go at solving this puzzle and registering your answer on the poll; Stop reading the solution, click on the link above and go do it now. 

The puzzle image is shown below:

Here is the “initial” solution:

1. There are three tables which total 30, so each table is 10.
2. There are three baskets which total 15, so each basket is 5.
3. There are three shirts which total 24, so each shirt is 8.
4. The final sum is 8 + 5 x 10.
5. Doing multiplication first gives 8 + 50.
6. So the final answer is 58 …. Which is incorrect.

Look closer at the image and you will notice the following:

• The tables have a shirt on them so you must calculate shirts first.
• There are two shirts on the first part of the third line.
• The final equation has 2 baskets and the table without a shirt.

So let’s start again with the correct solution:

1. There are three tables with shirts with total 30, so each table with shirt is 10.
2. There are three baskets which total 15, so each basket is 5.
3. There are four shirts which total 24, so each shirt is 6.
4. Table with shirt is 10 and shirt is 6 so table only is 4.
5. The final sum is 6 + 2(5) x 4 which equals 6 + 10 x 4.
6. Doing multiplication first gives 6 + 40.
7. So the final correct answer is 46.

Where you really observant? Did you get it right? At the time of posting the solution, 46% of respondents on the poll were correct, which is pretty good. The second most popular response was the initial incorrect answer with 13%.

Keep safe, well and sane.

David

This article was originally posted on http://www.winthropdc.com/blog.