Tutor MathsGuru: Ask me for your burning Maths questions!

[mathsguru]

YLH88:

Hi Mathsguru,


Need your help with the question below :

Rachel arranges some marbles to form a square with 13 rows and 13 columns. She then rearranges the marbles to form two squares of different sizes. Given that each row of the bigger square has 7 more marbles than the smaller square, find the number of marbles in each row of each new square formed.

Thank you!

Hi Jasmine,

Since the original square has 13 rows and 13 columns, it means there are 13 marbles in each row and column. Total number of marbles = 13 x 13 = 169.

I'll use guess and check to solve this question. Since the difference between the 2 numbers is 7 and their squares should total up to 169, one of the numbers should be rather big. However, it can't be 13. Let's try 12. 12 x 12 = 144. The other number should then be 12 - 5 = 5 and 5 x 5 = 25. Adding both squares up, we get 144 + 25 = 169.

Therefore the number of marbles in each row of the new big square and new small square formed is 12 and 5 respectively.

Cheers,
MathsGuru

[YLH88]

Hi Mathsguru,


Thank you very much!!

Have a nice weekend

Regards

[YLH88]

Hi Mathsguru,


Would like to check if you give private tuition for secondary kids ?

Thank you.

[pineapple tarts]

the sum of 2 numbers is 18. The bigger number is 8. Fnd the smaller number. Is this possible? Is 10 consider A NUMBER??? pls enlighten me, again. Many thanks.

[mathsguru]

YLH88:

Hi Mathsguru,


Would like to check if you give private tuition for secondary kids ?

Thank you.

Hi Jasmine,

Yes, I do provide maths tuition for primary and secondary school students. But I focus mainly on P5/6 and Sec 1/2. Can pm me if u have any questions.

In fact, I'm planning to start a group tuition at my place (rather Central location) for PSLE students on Friday noons. Interested folks, pls feel free to drop me a msg.

Thanks & Regards,
MathsGuru

[mathsguru]

pineapple tarts:

the sum of 2 numbers is 18. The bigger number is 8. Fnd the smaller number. Is this possible? Is 10 consider A NUMBER??? pls enlighten me, again. Many thanks.

Hi Pineapple Tarts,

Like u, I also think it's not v possible to get the smaller no. if 8 is the bigger no. May I ask where did u get this question from? There may be some inherent (typo) error in the question itself.

*scratch head* so sorry, dun think I can help u solve this question. :S

Cheers,
MathsGuru

[pineapple tarts]

sorry sorry sorry, typo error indeed. The question is \"the sum of 2 nos. is 18 and their difference is 8.\" This one I also can solve lah. :lol:

[YLH88]

Hi Mathsguru,


Thanks for the info. Will take note.

Regards

[catddy2002]

Hi Mathsguru,


Can check with you this question:

A teacher has some pencils.
If he give his students 2 pencils each, he has 10 pencils left.
If he give his students 3 pencils each, he has none left.
How many student he has?

Can you use a method to explain to a P4 student?
Thanks.

[mathsguru]

catddy2002:

Hi Mathsguru,


Can check with you this question:

A teacher has some pencils.
If he give his students 2 pencils each, he has 10 pencils left.
If he give his students 3 pencils each, he has none left.
How many student he has?

Can you use a method to explain to a P4 student?
Thanks.

Hi Catddy2002,

We can use logical deduction to obtain the answer. Try explaining this to ur child:
To give each student 1 pencil more, the teacher would have to use up his remaining 10 pencils. 

Therefore, how many students can the teacher give an extra 1 pencil to if he only has 10 pencils to give away. Answer: 10 / 1 = 10 students.

Since all students receive that additional pencil, that will mean there are 10 students in all.

I use this method to solve this type of questions. It's fast and accurate and my students all find it easy to understand. Hope ur child can ace this kind of question next time. The trick is to always ask urself : To give ___ extra no. of items to each person, u'll need how many more? Sometimes u gotta add/subtract to find out how many more, depending on the question. Then, simply divide the latter by the former and answer is out.

Cheers,
MathsGuru