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answer to math forum 97 POW
Posted:
Jul 17, 1997 10:54 AM
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The answer varies according to whether there is an even or odd number of
guests sitting at the table. If there were an even number of guests you
would want to sit one seat to the kings right. If there were an odd number
of guests you would to sit one seat to the left of the king. There was
agreement to this solution among our group. A similiar problem depends on
the focus of the question. We interpret the focus point to be the
comprehension of odd and even numbers.A similiar problem would be to stand
children in boys and girls line. Give objects to every other student until
every student has an object but one. Determine if there is a pattern why
that particular student was left without an object.
This problem has several uses: 1. understanding odd and even numbers; 2.
diagraming as a method to solve a mathematics problem. 3 critical thinking
skills.
An adaptation to this problem would be to select a different skip number
for the king. For example if the king were to dump oats on the head of
every third person would a pattern be formed to determine where to sit,
Would that pattern depend on the number of guests (odd or even eg.)
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