Middle School Problem of the Month: January 2012
Four men were shipwrecked on an island. Having no food, they went to work gathering pineapples. After gathering pineapples, they were tired and all fell asleep. After another while, one of the men awoke and was very hungry so he ate 1/3 of the pineapples - more than his proper share. He then went back to sleep. The second man awoke and being hungry, ate 1/3 of the remaining pineapples and went back to sleep. The third man did the same. When the fourth man awoke, he took only his rightful share of the remaining pineapples. Then there were 6 pineapples left. How many pineapples did the men gather?
Answer is 27 pineapples.
1) If the 4th man took 1/4 of the pineapples, what fraction did he leave?
2) The 6 remaining pineapples represent what part of the pineapples left by the fourth man?
3) If 3/4 of the pineapples equals 6, 1/4 of the pineapples equals what?
4) How many pineapples were there before the fourth man took his share?
5) Try working backwards.
(When you think you have the correct answer, send an email to Problem Solution (fredyouberg@nmmesa.org) with your answer. You MUST show your work! Please make the subject line of your email "Problem of the Month" and include your name, grade and school name in the email. The date and time of your email will be used to determine the order in which answers are received. The first, current MESA middle school student that submits the correct answer will be the featured middle school MESA student for the month. A student may be recognized only once per school year.)
