TOPICS
This page:
all algebra 
About Levels
of Difficulty
Algebra
 integers
use of variables
one variable equations
functions & relations
linear equations
linear data
linear systems
linear inequalities
exponents & radicals
polynomials
rational equations
quadratics
exponential functions
Browse all
Algebra
Problems
Algebra
Home
About the
PoW Library
Teacher Support
Page Available
Problem Accepts
Submissions
|
Browse all Algebra Problems of the Week
Participation in the Algebra Problems of the
Week allows teachers and students to address the
NCTM
Problem Solving Standard for Grades 9-12, enabling students to
build new mathematical knowledge through problem solving; solve problems
that arise in mathematics and in other contexts; apply and adapt a
variety of appropriate strategies to solve problems; and monitor and
reflect on the process of mathematical problem solving.
For background information elsewhere on our site, explore the
High School Algebra
area of the Ask Dr. Math archives. To find relevant
sites on the Web, browse and search
Basic Algebra
in our Internet Mathematics Library.
Access to these problems requires a Membership.
-
2002 Is Sum Year!
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 4. Find an arithmetic sequence the sum of whose terms is 2002.
... more>>
-
A 2-for-1 Lunch
- Marsha Hurwitz
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Two boys had lunch on a two-for-one coupon, plus taxes and tips. What was their percent of savings on the transaction?
... more>>
-
'Ace' Trotter
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. A problem from the sports world regarding free-throw percentages.
... more>>
-
Adrienne's Axel
- Leslie Hogben
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Adrienne, an algebraically inclined figure skater, figures an interesting problem for us.
... more>>
-
The Ages of Sigma
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. Find the ages of the three artists who make up the latest singing sensation: Sigma.
... more>>
-
All Wet
- Linda Benton
-
Algebra, difficulty level 3. Solve simultaneous equations, find area, and use the Pythagorean theorem and percentages to find the spraying distance needed for a circular sprinkler in a rectangular yard.
... more>>
-
Ant Race
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. Two ants race to a piece of food. Your task is to figure out how far apart they were when the race started.
... more>>
-
Approval Method of Voting
- Ethel Breuche
-
Algebra, difficulty level 3. In the country of Algpoweria, eligible voters can cast their votes for two candidates. Based on the clues given, find how many votes each candidate received and the number of eligible voters.
... more>>
-
As the Crow Flies
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. A percentage of crows sitting on a telephone line leaves, then returns. Find how many crows are present at the end.
... more>>
-
At Least This Many
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Using two data points from the NBA statistics chart, form an equation (y = mx + b style), then use it to predict other data points.
... more>>
-
An "Average" Problem
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Three test grades are removed from a set of scores. You are given the new set's average and a ratio involving the scores removed. What scores have been removed?
... more>>
-
The Box Supper
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 3. Find the amount of money that Judy Ann's "beau" paid at the box supper auction for her box of delicious food.
... more>>
-
Bugs Bunny's Money
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Find how much Mr. Bugs Bunny is carrying in a money bag, given clues such as the ratio of coins that are pennies and the percentage of coins that are dimes.
... more>>
-
Bull's-eye Probability
- Ethel Breuche
-
Algebra, difficulty level 3. Find the probability of hitting a circular target board closer to the center.
... more>>
-
Burger Inflation?
- Annie Fetter, Terry Trotter, Steve Risberg, and Steve Weimar
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Given the affect of inflation, is a national-chain hamburger cheaper or more costly than it was in 1970?
... more>>
-
Buy This Tune!
- Terry and NCTM's WLME
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Using data about buying habits of music lovers from 1990 and 1996, predict the results for 2000 and compare those predictions to the actual data.
... more>>
-
Calling Long Distance
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. Use simple equations to compare two telephone calling plans.
... more>>
-
The Chip Swap Game
- Ethel Breuche
-
Algebra, difficulty level 4. The object of this game is to swap the positions of the different colored chips. Count the number of moves and, as you increase the number of chips, find the general formula.
... more>>
-
The Christmas Gifts
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. A grandfather doles out his annual Christmas gifts to his beloved grandchildren in a most unusual way - mathematical, of course.
... more>>
-
A Coat of Golden Angels
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. Show how to do scientific notation problems on an 8-digit, four-function calculator.
... more>>
-
The Continued Fraction
- Ethel Breuche
-
Algebra, difficulty level 4. Find the value of a given continued fraction.
... more>>
-
Copying Conundrum
- Annie Fetter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. Using a copy machine, copy an 8 x 10 inch picture at 80%. Then copy the copy at 80%, and repeat this until you have 5 copies of the original. What's the largest dimension now? What's a formula you could use?
... more>>
-
The Custom of Customs
- Ethel Breuche
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Two wine merchants enter Paris with their merchandise. They need to pay custom duties. Each pays with francs and with some casks of wine. What is each cask of wine worth and what is the duty on each cask?
... more>>
-
A Day at the Fairs
- Terry Trotter via Kraitchik & Chuquet
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. A merchant went selling and buying at three city fairs. Did he make a profit or take a loss?
... more>>
-
Diego's Building Block
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 3. Find the surface area of a rectangular prism, given the volume and information about the dimensions.
... more>>
-
A Dog, a Hog, and a Frog
- Redwood Empire Mathematics Tournament
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Three animal friends want to cross a big swamp. How wide is that swamp?
... more>>
-
Donald Duck's Trip
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. What fractional part of Donald's trip had he traveled by 4:00 P.M.?
... more>>
-
Don't Be Square
- Ethel Breuche
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. Use pattern recognition and square roots to find the sum of two numbers.
... more>>
-
Dot.com Derby
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Three "dots" run a race around a circular track in an unusual manner. You must determine the winners in two categories.
... more>>
-
Driving to Work
- Annie Fetter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Tracey drives to work at 40 mph and is 1 minute late. If she leaves at the same time and drives 45 mph, she'll be 1 minute early. How far does Tracey live from work?
... more>>
-
Escalation
- Melissa Kennedy
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. A rate, time, distance problem that involves finding the number of steps on an escalator.
... more>>
-
The EV Function
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Given a function's definition, find the input (argument) value that yields a certain output value.
... more>>
-
Explaining a Number Trick
- Annie Fetter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. Use a variable to explain how this number trick works.
... more>>
-
Filling Glasses
- Annie Fetter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Match up each of the three glasses with the graph that best describes the height of the water in the glass over time, when the glass is filled with water at a constant rate.
... more>>
-
Filling the Aquarium
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. A workman at a zoo has to clean an aquarium, but forgets to do an important task, thus causing a problem (for us).
... more>>
-
Finding a Two-Digit Number
- Annie Fetter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Find a two-digit number such that if you reverse its digits to get another two-digit number, then add this to the original number, you get 143.
... more>>
-
Flatland Soldiers
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. Find the size of the vertex angle of a soldier in the world of Flatland, a famous book by Edwin A. Abbott.
... more>>
-
Fording the River
- Lisa and Judy Gardner
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. A terrible accident occurred just when the hands of a watch were in a special position. What time was it?
... more>>
-
Four Men and Some Money
- Daboll
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. Four men (A, B, C, & D) are splitting up a quantity of money ($100), and need your help to do it.
... more>>
-
The Function Challenge
- Bill Graham
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Arrange a series of functions in the order that will produce the largest output.
... more>>
-
Funny Ducks
- Ethel Breuche
-
Algebra, difficulty level 4. These funny ducks always walk exactly three feet from the lily pond. What is the area of the region bounded by their path?
... more>>
-
Generosity
- Ethel Breuche
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Three generous friends, each with some cash, redistribute their money.
... more>>
-
Going for the Gold
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 4. Find the number of points that are awarded for each gold, silver, and bronze medal in an athletic competition.
... more>>
-
Grandpa Jones' Age
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Little George asks how old his grandpa is, and needs your help to find out the answer.
... more>>
-
The Great Doughnut Caper
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. After a number of doughnuts have been switched in their respective boxes, you are to discover the original state of things before the change was made.
... more>>
-
The Great One
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Indiana Jones found a math problem about the life span of "The Great One" engraved on an old tombstone. How old was the Great One when he died?
... more>>
-
Gumballs Galore!
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Two famous characters from literature go on a gumball shopping spree.
... more>>
-
Halloween Night
- Ethel Breuche
-
Algebra, difficulty level 1. One hundred candy kisses were being distributed, one at a time, to five goblins at my door. The phone rang, and when I came back I didn't remember where I had left off. How did I continue distributing without
starting over?
... more>>
-
He Shoots! He Scores!
- Annie Fetter, Steve Risberg, & Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 3. Given a set of equations and inequalities, figure out how many points Bo might have scored in his basketball game.
... more>>
-
Highway Miles
- Terry Trotter
-
Algebra, difficulty level 2. Find the number of miles a person travels on a highway, given the number of gallons of gas and the consumption rate.
... more>>
Page: 1
2
3
[next>]
|
The Math Forum is a research and educational enterprise of the Drexel School of Education.