Parent Math’s Challenge
For the last few weeks, many learners and staff at Barrow Hills have been competing in a times tables challenge called the ‘100 second challenge’, which involves seeing how many times tables calculations one can do in 100 seconds. It has proved to be a very competitive undertaking! At the time of sending this article, the learner record stands at an incredible 91 calculations in 100 seconds. The staff record stands at an impressive 79 calculations in 100 seconds. The current ‘world record’ so to speak, is a scarcely believable 145 calculations in 100 seconds held by some random anonymous person somewhere in the world.
Perhaps you as a parent can have a go? Here is the link.
Solution to last week’s problem
I met a sprightly and elderly gentleman, Mr. Williams, at a train station. After chatting for a bit, I was inquisitive and asked Mr. Williams about his birthday. With a mischievous smile on his face, he replied. “The day before yesterday I was 96 years old and next year I will be 99.” Assuming that the current year is 2010, can you figure out the date of birth of Mr. Williams?
Answer:
Mr. Williams’ date of birth is 31 December, 1912. Today is 1 January, 2010. The day before yesterday was 30 December, 2009 and Mr. Williams’ was 96 on that day. Today i.e. 1 January, 2010 – he is 97. On 31 December 2010, he will be 98 and next year i.e. 31 December, 2011 – he will be 99. Hence, the date of birth is 31 December, 1912.
