Problem of the Week 8

Due Friday, December 11

Four mathletes, Brianna, Andy, Courtney and Brandon, competed in the finals of the
Animas High School Math Bowl. Prizes were awarded for the top three competitors
as follows: first place received an anniversary Math Faculty Pink Tie, second place
received a book of Brain Teasers, and third place received an I Love Math T-shirt.
Three staff members of AHS predicted how the prizes would be awarded.
Lauren predicted that Brandon would win the pink tie, Andy would win the
book and Courtney would win the T-shirt.
Hannah predicted that Brianna would win the pink tie, Brandon would win the
book and Courtney would win the T-shirt.
Aliza predicted that Andy would win the pink tie, Brianna would win the book
and Brandon would win the T-shirt.
It turns out that each staff member predicted exactly one prize winner correctly.
Determine precisely how the prizes were awarded.
1. Understanding the Problem
Each teacher guessed one award winner correctly and we need to figure out who
got what award. The challenge is deciding what teacher is correct on what student.
I know that there are four mathletes from AHS and only three awards. Therefore,
only three of the four students will get awards. I know the three members from AHS
each predicted exactly one prize winner correctly. We need to figure out what
student got what award. 2
2. Process
I used the process of elimination to determine who won each prize. I knew that I
could eliminate Courtney for all prizes because two AHS member predicted her for
the book(3rd place). She did not have any other prediction so I knew she lost and
did not get any prize. Since Courtney did not win the t-shirt we know that Alizas
prediction was correct and brandon won the t-shirt. SInce brandon won the t-shirt he
could not win the book or the pink tie so Andy won the book and Brianna won the
pink tie which gives each teacher one correct prediction. 4
3. Solution
In the Mathlete competition, Brianna won the pink tie, Andy won the book, Brandon
won the t-shirt, and Courtney lost the competition and won nothing. 2
4. Justification
Trial and error can bring you to a correct conclusion. Yes it corresponded to the
prediction we got the correct answer on our first try. Yes it is reasonable because
each teacher got one correct prediction. Process of elimination works in some
logical math problems. We know we are correct because each teacher had one
correct prediction. 2