Math Escape Challenge Practice Problems

These problems are for informational purposes only. These may be standalone problems or may be one component of a multi-part problem set. ( Answers for questions #1-3 are shown in bold.)

#1 
Danny sells apples, he sold half his apple stock plus one more to his first customer of the day. To the second customer, he sold half of the remainder plus one more. To the third customer, he sold half the remainder plus one more; and to the fourth customer, he sold half the remainder plus one more. Danny was now out of apples. How many apples did Danny have for sale at the start of this day? Answer:  30

#2 
There is a grandfather clock that chimes the appropriate number of times to indicate the hour (1 chime for 1 o’clock, 2 chimes for 2 o’clock, ect..)as well as chiming once at each quarter hour. If you were in the other room and heard the clock chime just once, what would be the LONGEST period of time you would have to wait in order to be certain of the correct time? (the clock is working properly and is set at the correct time.)  Answer:90 min (12:15 to 1:45)

#3 
There is a cage at the city Zoo that contains Both Flamingos and Wild pigs. If there is a total of 30 eyes and 44 feet, how many of each are in the cage?   Answer: 7 pigs, 8 birds (2x + 4y = 44, 2x + 2y = 30)

#4 
When you use a candle a little bit of the fat and wax can be reclaimed to make a new candle.  If it takes 10 used candles to make 1 new candle how many candles can I burn if I start with 1000 candles?

#5
Find the hidden y-intercept. The final answer is a positive whole number.

#6
All of these values have to do with computer s. You have calculated a numerical value known as a hexadecimal and have dealt with exponential growth via the 2^n value of binary systems. S peaking of binary, the answer  dealing with the candles is in binary. Binary starts at 0 and counts up to 1. If you want to go higher then 1 you place a 1 in front and reset that digit to 0. Just like if I had 9 and wanted to go up one more digit the answer would be 10. The 9 became a zero and I put a 1 in front.  An example of binary: 0=0, 1=1, 10=2, 11=3 and so on.

So what does the first answer say?_________________________

#7
     A ballroom is set for dancers to see

    Numerical partners come alive to dance with glee.

    Partners are needed to dance at first

    but a lone number stands there, all others have dispersed.

    If we have one, one must join as per the rule

    for 1 + 1 will make it 2.

    If 2 are there then 2 more shall dance

    Now we have 4 beginning to prance.

    With 4 dancers as our new base

    4 more enter the dance floor with a subtle grace.

    If we follow this rule a great growth will occur

    Yet the room size will not deter.

    Upon the heads of others the numbers will go

    To dance and to continue with the flow

    “Another dimension of fun and suspense”

    Cry the numbers as they climb on other’s heads

    An interesting event can now be seen

    For numbers like to move with symmetry.

    They stack upon one another, with geometric precision

    And form shapes without causing collisions.

    A cube is formed, and they shout with glee

    For it is Rooted deep in their mythology.

    The numbers of dancers for each cube made

    Will be summed together this day.

    The legends say the number of myth

    is the number of cubes, 2 subtracted from the fifth.