[STEP 1] UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

*GIVEN:

 A1 = 1 *A2 = 3 *A3 = 6 *A4 = 10

 An-1 + n
 n=7

*ASK:

 How many blocks will be there when n=7

[STEP 2] DEVISE A PLAN

Look for pattern: In the sequence the value of the next term is the sum of the last
term value and the number of the next term

Equation:
Next term = value of the last term + range number of the next term
Next term = An = An-1 + n

[STEP 3] CARRY OUT THE PLAN

SOLUTION: (Since A1, A2, A3, and A4 are already given the diagram above we only
have to look for A5, A6, and A7)

Where: *A1 = 1 *A2 = 3 *A3 = 6 *A4 = 10

An = An-1 + n An = An-1 + n An = An-1 + n

A5 = A5-1 + 5 A6 = A6-1 + 6 A7 = A7-1 + 7
A5 = A4 + 5 A6 = A5 + 6 A7 = A6 + 7
A5 = 10 + 5 A6 = 15 + 6 A7 = 21 + 7
A5 = 15 A6 = 21 A7 = 28
[STEP 4] LOOK BACK
*CHECKING:
Next term = value of the last term + range number of the next term
Next term = An = An-1 + n
28 = A7 = A7-1 + 7 n= An – An-1
= A7 = A6 + 7 7= 28 – 21
= A7 = 21 + 7 7= 7
28 = A7 = 28 (check)
(check)

*ANSWER:

There would be 28 blocks when n=7.

 2
2. Determine the nth term of sequence 1, /3, 4/9, 8/27, 16/81 …
[STEP 1] UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

*GIVEN:

 A1= 1 A2= 2/3 A3= 4/9

 A4= 8/27 A5 = 16/81

*ASK:

 nth term of the sequence

[STEP 2 and 3] DEVISE A PLAN and CARRY OUT THE PLAN

Look for pattern and write an equation:

 The sequence given is a geometric sequence and we can identify its
common ratio through observing the numerator sequence: 1, 2,4,8,and 16.
 It has a pattern of 2n-1, 22-1, 23-1,24-1, and 25-1
 General term of numerator pattern is 2n-1
 Same for the denominator sequence 1,3,9,27,and 81.
 It also have a general term of 3n-1
 So, the general term for this sequence is

n = 2n-1
3n-1
n = (2/3)n-1

[STEP 4] LOOK BACK

*CHECKING:
For A4 = 8/27

n = (2/3)n-1
A4 = (2/3)4-1
8/27 = (2/3)3
8/27 = 8/27
(check)

*ANSWER:

The nth term for the sequence is n=(2/3)n-1 .

3. Looking in the backyard one day, John saw an assortment of boys
and dogs. Counting heads he got 22. Counting feet he got 68. How
many boys and how many dogs were in the yard?
[STEP 1] UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

*GIVEN:

 22 heads *2 feet for each boy

 68 feet *4 feet for each dog

*ASK:

 Number of boys and dogs in the backyard.

[STEP 2] DEVISE A PLAN

Write an equation:
Let x = number of boys Given: 22 heads
y = number of dogs 68 legs
2 feet for each boy
4 feet for each dog

so, x+y = 22 (number of heads/ number of total animals in the backyard)

2x+4y= 68 (number of legs; where boy(x) has 2 feet and dog (y) has 4 feet)

In order to get the number of legs for boys and dogs we have to:
2x+4y= 22
2(22-y)+4y= 68 where x= 22-y
[STEP 3] CARRY OUT THE PLAN
SOLUTION:
2(22-y)+4y =68 for x:
44-2y+4y =68 x = 22-y
44-2y =68-44 = 22-12
-2y =68-44 x = 10
-2y =-24
y = 12

[STEP 4] LOOK BACK

*CHECKING:
2x 4y = 68 x+y = 22
2(10)+4(12) = 68 (10)+(12) = 22
20+48 = 68 22 = 22
68 = 68 (check)
(check)

*ANSWER:

There are 10 boys and 12 dogs in the backyard.

4. A farmer needs to fence a rectangle piece of land. He wants the
length of the field to be 80 feet longer than the width. If she has 1080
feet of fencing material , what should be the length and the width of
the field be?
[STEP 1] UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

*GIVEN:

 1080 feet fencing material

 Length must be 80 feet longer than the field

*ASK:

 The length and width of the field.

[STEP 2] DEVISE A PLAN

Write an equation:
Let l = length of the field
w = width of the field

 so, l = 80 + w (where length is 80 feet longer than the width)

 In order to know the length and the width – we also have to use the formula
of its perimeter: 2 (l + w) = 1080 (where 1080 is the total perimeter in feet)

[STEP 3] CARRY OUT THE PLAN

SOLUTION:
For the length (l) :
2 (l + w) = 1080 l = 80 + w
2 [(80+w)+w] = 1080 (where l= 80 + w) l = 80 + 230
2 (80+2w) = 1080 l = 310
160+ 4w = 1080 – 160
4w = 920
4 4
w = 230

[STEP 4] LOOK BACK

*CHECKING:
2 (l + w) = 1080
2 ( 310 + 230) = 1080
2 (540) = 1080
1080 = 1080
(check)

*ANSWER:

The length of the field is 310 feet and its width is 230 feet.
5. In a certain factory, machine A produces three times as many bolts
as machine B. Machine C produces 13 more bolts than machine A. If
the total production is 4997 bolts per day, how many bolts does each
machine produces in a day?
[STEP 1] UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

*GIVEN:

 (Machine A) 3 times many than Machine B

 (Machine C) 13 more than Machine A

*ASK:

 Number of bolts does each machine producesin a day.

[STEP 2] DEVISE A PLAN

Write an equation and identify the sub goal:

Let 3x = Machine A (threee times than Machine B)
x = Machine B
13 + 3x = Machine C (13 more than Machine A)

Sub goal: Find the number of bolts produces in Machine B.

Formula: 3x + x + (13 + 3x) = 4997

[STEP 3] CARRY OUT THE PLAN
SOLUTION:
#1 Machine B: #2 Machine A

3x + x + (13 + x) = 4997 Machine A = 3x

x + 3x + 13 + x = 4997 = 3 (712)
7x + 13 = 4997 Machine A = 2136
7x + 13 -13 = 4997-13
7x = 4984 #3 Machine C
7 7 Machine C = 13 + 3x
x = 712 = 13 + 3(712)
= 13 + 2136
Machine C = 2149
[STEP 4] LOOK BACK
*CHECKING:
x + 3x + 13 +3 x = 4997
712 + 3(712) + 13 + (3) 712 = 4997
712 + 2136 + 2149 = 4997
4997 = 4997
(check)
*ANSWER:

The number of bolts does each machine produces are 2136 bolts in
Machine A, 712 bolts in Machine B, and 2149 bolts in Machine C.
 6. The tens digit of a two-digit number exceeds the units digit by 2. If
the number is increased by nine and then divided by the sum of the
digits, the quotient is 7. Find the number.

[STEP 1] UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

*GIVEN:

 Quotient = 7
 A two digit number

*ASK:

 The number that satisfies the statement.

[STEP 2] DEVISE A PLAN

Write an equation and identify the sub goal (Find the value of y.)
Let x = the tens digit
y = the ones digit

Formula: 10x + y (where x and y be the two digits)

x = y + 2 (to get the tens digit)
10x + y = 7 (If the number is divided by the sum of the digits and its qoutient is 7)
x+y
[STEP 3] CARRY OUT THE PLAN
SOLUTION:
#1 10x + y = 7 #2 TO GET Y: #3 TO GET X:
x+y 3x = 6y x=y+2
(x+y) 10x + y = 7 (x+y) 3(y+2) = 6y x=2+2
x+y 3y + 6 = 6y-3y x=4
10x + y = 7 (x+y) 6 = 3y
10x + y = 7x+7y 3 3 #4 TO GET THE NUMBER:
10x -7x = 7y – y 2=y n = 10x + y
3x = 6y 10(4) + 2
40 + 2
[STEP 4] LOOK BACK n = 42
*CHECKING:
#1 #2
x + y = s (sum of the two digits) 10x + y =7
4 +2=6 x+y
10(4) + 2 =7
4+2
42 =7
6
7 = 7 (check)

*ANSWER:

The value of the number that will satisfy the statement is 42.
 7. ABC University had a faculty reduction and lost one fifth of its
faculty. If 320 faculty members were left after the reduction, how many
members were there originally?

[STEP 1] UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

*GIVEN:

 1/5 faculty members reduced

 320 faculty members left

*ASK:

 The total number of the faculty members.

[STEP 2] DEVISE A PLAN
Write an equation
Let x = the total number of original faculty
5/5 - 1/5= number of faculty remains in fraction.

Formula: x = faculty members left * number of faculty remains in fraction

[STEP 3] CARRY OUT THE PLAN

SOLUTION:

#1 TO GET THE REMAINING #2 TO GET THE TOTAL OF

FACULTY IN FRACTION ORIGINAL FACULTY MEMBERS

5–1=4 320 = 4/5 (x)

5 5 5 320 * 5/4 = 4/5 (x) * 5/4
320 * 5/4 = x
1600/4 = x
400 = x

[STEP 4] LOOK BACK

*CHECKING:

400 – 320 = 1
400 400 5

80 =1
400 5

1 =1 (checked)
5 5

*ANSWER:

The total number of the original faculty is 400 members.

 8. In an auto factory, robots assemble cars. If 3 robots can assemble
17 cars in ten minutes, how many cars can 14 robots assemble in 45
minutes if all robots work at the same rate all the time?
[STEP 1] UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

*GIVEN:

 3 robots
 14 robots
 45 miutes
 17 cars in 10 minutes

*ASK:

 Number of cars that can be assemble by 14 robots in 45 minutes.

[STEP 2] DEVISE A PLAN

 The number of cars is directly proportional to the number of robots .

 The number of cars is also directly related to the amount of time of the robots.
 Let x = number of cars
r = number of robots
t = time of assembly in minutes
p = range of assembling the cars
 In the given, there are 3 robots can assemble 17 cars in 10 minutes.
 Then,we can say that cars (x) = range (p) * robots ( r ) * time (t)
 Subgoal: find the range of assembling in every robots per minute.

[STEP 3] CARRY OUT THE PLAN

#Subgoal (p) #2
x = p*r*t x = p*r*t
17 = p*(3)(10) x = (17/30)(14)(45) x= 357
17 = p (30) x = (17/30)(630)
p = 17/30 x = (10,170/30)

[STEP 4] LOOK BACK

*CHECKING: (LOOKING FOR A1)

x = p*r*t p= x/r*t
357 = (17/30)(14)(45) p= 357/(14)(45)
357 = (17/30)(630) p= 357/630
357 = (10,170/30) p= 17/30
357 = 357 17/30 = 17/30
(check) (check)

*ANSWER:

The cars that can be asscemble by 14 robots in 45 minutes is 357

cars.
 9. The school population for a certain school was predicted to
increase by 50 students a year for the next 10 years. If the current
enrollment is 700 students, what will the enrollment be after 10 years?

[STEP 1] UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

*GIVEN:

 50 students increase per year

 700 students currently enrolled

*ASK:

 Number of enrollment after 10 years.

[STEP 2 and 3] DEVISE A PLAN and CARRY OUT THE PLAN

Total enrollment after 10 years = (number of students * number of years) + 700

Let: x = total enrollment for 10 years

y = number of years

So, x = 50y + 700

SOLUTION:
x = 50y + 700
x = 50 (10) + 700
x = 500 + 700
x = 1,200

[STEP 4] LOOK BACK

*CHECKING: (LOOKING FOR A1)

x = 50y + 700
1,200 = 50y + 700
1,200-700 = 50y
500/50 = 50y/50
10 = y
10=10
(check)

*ANSWER:

The enrollment after 10 years will be 1,200 students.

 10. A teacher of the famous mathematician Gauss required students
to find the sum of the first 100 natural numbers with the purpose to
make the class occupied but Gauss gave the answer almost
immediately. What was Gauss’ answer? Show your guess how he did
it.
[STEP 1] UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

*GIVEN:

 first 100 natural numbers

*ASK:

 Gauss’ answer and how did he solve it.

[STEP 2 ] DEVISE A PLAN

 The first 100 natural intergers are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… 100

 Gauss find a way in solving the sum of the first hundred integers through adding
the first number to the last number (1 + 100) and the answer is 101.
 After trying in the first pair, the second, third pair and so on pair of numbers
(2+99, 3+98…) the answer is still the same.
 All in all there are 50 pairs of numbers in the first 100 integers.
 These 50 pairs has the same sum of 101.
 In order to get the total sum of the whole 50 pairs, multiply the number of pairs to
the sum.
 Number of pairs * sum

[STEP 3 and 4] CARRY OUT THE PLAN and LOOKING BACK
SOLUTION: *we could also use the formula of Summation
Total=Number of pairs * the sum in Arithmetic Sequence
= 50 * 101 Sn = n/2 [ 2A1+(n-1) d ]
= 5050 Sn = 100/2 [ 2(1)+(100-1) (1) ]
Sn = 50 [ 2+(99)(1) ]
Sn = 50 (2+99 )
Sn = 50 (101)
Sn = 5050

Grand Total = Sn
5050 = 5050
(check)

*ANSWER:

Gauss answer to the problem of the sum of the first 100 integers is 5050.