Problem: Your job is to feed the monkeys at the local zoo. There are 15 monkeys, and you have 39 bananas to share equally among them. You may cut the bananas into pieces
SHOW ALL WORK!!!
1.) How much does each monkey get?
2.) What is the minimum number of pieces you need to make?
3.) What is the minimum number ofcuts you can make to create these pieces?
4.) Explain, using complete sentences as to how you solved this problem and why your answer works!
Originally posted by Master of Golden Sun Problem: Your job is to feed the monkeys at the local zoo. There are 15 monkeys, and you have 39 bananas to share equally among them. You may cut the bananas into pieces
SHOW ALL WORK!!!
1.) How much does each monkey get?
2.) What is the minimum number of pieces you need to make?
3.) What is the minimum number ofcuts you can make to cr ...[text shortened]... ) Explain, using complete sentences as to how you solved this problem and why your answer works!
1.) every monkey gets an even share, so every monkey gets 39/15=2+3/5.
2.) You need 30 whole bananas, so then you need to divide 9 bananas by 15. you can make 9 (3/5)'s. then you need to divide 9 (2/5)'s by 6. so you cut 3 of those pieces in half, to give those 6 monkeys a (2/5) and a (1/5). Number of pieces 30 + 9 + 6*2 = 51
3.) For the 30 whole bananas you need no cuts. for those 9 (3/5)'s you need nine cuts. for the last 9 (2/5)'s you need 3 cuts. Total of cuts: 9 +3 = 12
4.) The reason why these are the minima is because all cuts made are efficient. the first 9 cuts gives you pieces with which you can feed 9 monkeys. Then for the next cut gives you pieces to feed 2 monkeys at once. The next two also. There is no other way you can use your cuts this efficient. And the fewer cuts, the fewer pieces.
Originally posted by Master of Golden Sun Problem: Your job is to feed the monkeys at the local zoo. There are 15 monkeys, and you have 39 bananas to share equally among them. You may cut the bananas into pieces
SHOW ALL WORK!!!
1.) How much does each monkey get?
2.) What is the minimum number of pieces you need to make?
3.) What is the minimum number ofcuts you can make to cr ...[text shortened]... ) Explain, using complete sentences as to how you solved this problem and why your answer works!
1) each monkey gets 39/15 = 13/5 = 2 and 3/5 banana's
2) + 3)
First you give all monkeys two banana's, that is 30 pieces already. You have 9 banana's left. You can make 9 3/5's by cutting 9 times. Total of 48 pieces already thus. Now you have 9 pieces of 2/5 banana, to divide over 6 monkeys. Cut three of those into two equal pieces, and distribute them among the monkeys. That gives 51 pieces in total, with 12 cuts.
Originally posted by TheMaster37 1) each monkey gets 39/15 = 13/5 = 2 and 3/5 banana's
2) + 3)
First you give all monkeys two banana's, that is 30 pieces already. You have 9 banana's left. You can make 9 3/5's by cutting 9 times. Total of 48 pieces already thus. Now you have 9 pieces of 2/5 banana, to divide over 6 monkeys. Cut three of those into two equal pieces, and distribute them among the monkeys. That gives 51 pieces in total, with 12 cuts.
You only need two cuts.
Just line up the bananas before you cut them, and use a really big and sharp knife... 😉
Originally posted by Acolyte You only need two cuts.
Just line up the bananas before you cut them, and use a really big and sharp knife... 😉
On the topic of cuts, suppose you have an apple. If you make n planar cuts through it, what is the largest number of pieces you can make (you can't move pieces between cuts)?
Originally posted by royalchicken On the topic of cuts, suppose you have an apple. If you make n planar cuts through it, what is the largest number of pieces you can make (you can't move pieces between cuts)?
What kind of apple? The answer for a Fuji would be different from a Red Delicious.
Feeding the Monkeys Problem
03 Dec '03 16:01
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