v5n4 Seven Mysteries For Your Algebra Class

MATHEMATICS TEACHING-RESEARCH JOURNAL ONLINE
VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
1
Seven Mysteries for your Algebra Class
Terence Brenner
Hostos Community College, CUNY
Readers are free to copy, display, and distribute this article, as long as the work is attributed to the author(s) and Mathematics Teaching-
Research Journal On-Line, it is distributed for non-commercial purposes only, and no alteration or transformation is made in the work. All other
uses must be approved by the author(s) or MT-RJoL. MT-RJoL is published jointly by the Bronx Colleges of the City University of New York.
www.hostos.cuny.edu/departments/math/mtrj
VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
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Abstract
In this paper we present seven mysteries of the week to make an algebra class more
interesting. The first is for an introduction to linear equations; the second is for more
complicated word problems that include consecutive numbers; the third is for a mixture
and money problems, the fourth is for equations with fractions, the fifth is for
multiplying, dividing and factoring, the sixth is for solving simultaneous linear equations
using the addition and substitution methods and the seventh is for solving more
complicated simultaneous linear equations.
Comments from my students.
“I would like to see more mysteries because it forces me to think and be able to learn the
formulas in word problems. Its useful for everyday math experiences”
“What I really like the mysteries is the fact that it makes me think more than just a
regular problem written in letters”
“I would like to see practice mysteries assignment, quiz etc not just mysteries They are
good but sometimes are hard to resolve or to see an equation”
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December 2012
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“I like that the mysteries are challenging it put my mind to think, I dislike some are to
long and confusing because it has to much wording. I would like to see mysteries that
aren’t so hard to do when you are home”
“I like them because the help with word problems and how to sort it. Only reason I
dislike it is because it won’t show up on the test also there hard”
“What I like about the mysteries is that it makes me think a lot. I would recommend
these mysteries to other students because it really push you to study hard”
“Personally I like the mysteries because it makes it more interesting to learn from and it
just not numbers and numbers. Even though the problem given are not easy at all and
confusing, the point of it is to read the mysteries carefully and follow the clues given. I
would like to see more mysteries in the future, at least one every week and do it in a
group work and after discuss it in class”
“What I like about the mysteries are it helps you think about the problem and it
challenges you to go extra step to figure it out. I would recommend these mysteries to
other students so that if they are trying to become better at math they can use the
mysteries as a challenge”
“Its good because it helps you use the math skill so they stay fresh in your brain”
We present the mysteries below exactly as they are given to the students in class. Can
you solve them?
THE FIRST MYSTERY OF THE WEEK
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December 2012
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Lieutenant Columbo has just discovered that if he multiplies the number of corpses by 5
he would have 15 corpses. He also stumbled onto the fact that if he divides the number of
clues by 4 he would have 5. After a couple of days he learns that 3 more than number of
motives is 6 and 8 less than the number of suspects is 4. Finally, 3 more than twice the
number of weapons is 7. He must finish his investigation today. Please help him by
setting up the equations, solving them and showing all the work. Lieutenant Columbo
now knows that the murderer’s number is the sum of the number of corpses, clues,
motives, suspects and weapons. Who did it?

CORPSES CLUES MOTIVES
SUSPECTS WEAPONS
number 1-15 number 16-30 number 31-45

Rivas, Nancy Guillermo Quirci Ramos Judith
Sanchez, Amelia Hernandez Rosa Rivera Pedro J
Santiago, Dolores Howard Emery L. Rodriguez Maria D
Alicea,Lilian a Liranzo Ana Rosa Montano Betzaida
Burgos Jorge Mack Sandra Vassquez Luz
Cabrera Luis Maldonado Anibal Wilson George A
Camacho , Anderson Mena Christian A Woddard Demond
Cedeno, Angela Molina Ana C Yeta, Danjura
Cepeda, Judy Moreno Magdalena M Adeoba, Adetunji
Contin Josefina Nicholas Rubia Alonzo, Orlando E
Cruz Rocio Nieves David Bellinger Keenan L
De La Cruz Nelly Nieves Deliris Blunt Toni
Dundas Natasha N Obasuyi Michael O Canario, Maritza
Gomez Felina a Peralta Ramona Castellanos, Michelle
Guadarrama Virginia Polanco Elaine F Cruz, Carlos M
VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
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THE SECOND MYSTERY OF THE WEEK
Lieutenant Hernandez , taking over the cases for Lieutenant Colombo, has just been
handed case number 457. After looking at the file he discovers that three times the
number of victims increased by seven is equal to nineteen. He also stumbled onto the fact
that twice the difference of the number of witnesses and six is 10. After a few days he
learns that the number of suspects is half the number of clues and they total 84. The
Lieutenant remembers that he had a lot of cases and recalls that case number ’s that had
the same number of corpses where three consecutive case numbers whose sum was 57.
What is odd is the case numbers that had the same number of weapons is the same for
three consecutive odd case numbers, where twice the smallest case number added to the
VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
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largest is 67. By accident, he realizes that the case numbers that had the same number of
clues is the same for three consecutive even case numbers where twice the largest added
to the smallest is 74. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He must finish his investigation
today. Set up the equations, solve them and show the work. Wait a minute, if he finds the
average of the number of victims, witnesses, clues and the smallest number of case
numbers for corpses, weapons and clues he will have the murderer’s number. Who did it?
VICTIMS WITNESSES
SUSPECTS AND CLUES
CASE NUMBERS FOR CORPSES CASE NUMBERS FOR WEAPONS
VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
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CASE NUMBERS FOR CLUES
THE THIRD MYSTERY OF THE WEEK
Lieutenant Polanco was just handed the case file from Lieutenant Hernandez. After
reading the file, Lieutenant Polanco discovers that each victim had exactly $3.35.
Investigating further, she notices that for each victim they had twice as many quarters as
dimes and two more nickels than dimes. Exactly how many nickels, dimes, and quarters
did each victim have? She needs to take fingerprints from the coins, but needs a 40%
solution of pure ink. She has 55 liters that is 60% pure ink. Her partner, Detective Del La
Cruz tells her that if she adds some 30% solution of pure ink she can make the 40%
solution of pure ink that she needs. How much of the 30% solution of pure ink does she
need? After many days of investigating, she now knows that 25% of the total: nickels,
VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
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dimes, quarters and 30% solution of pure ink is the murder’s number. Who did it?
Please help her by setting up the equations solving them and showing all the work.
NICKELS, DIMES AND QUARTERS
30% SOLUTION OF PURE INK

VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
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THE FOURTH MYSTERY OF THE WEEK
Detectives Gomez and Sanchez stumble over an interesting fact. From all their previous
cases the number of weapons was four less than the number of clues. Even stranger, one-
half the number of clues is three more than one-third the number of weapons. How many
weapons and clues were there? The two detectives were handed 258 case files.
Detective Gomez remembered that it took her 10 hours to review that many files, while
detective Sanchez remembered it took him 40 hours to review that many files. To save
time, they decide to work together. How long will it take them working together to
review all the files? Captain Jeter is on vacation, but gets a call from the detectives at
1:30pm. The captain and the detectives realize they are 160 miles apart. At 2:00pm the
captain leaves his vacation spot and the detectives also leave at the same time. They
VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
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travel towards each other and arrive at 4:00pm at the crime scene. The captain’s speed is
two-thirds of the detectives. What were the speed of the captain and the speed of the
detectives? Finally, after all their hard work they discover that the sum of: one-fourth the
number of hours the detectives worked together , one-half the number of clues, one-third
the number of weapons and one-sixteenth the speed of the detectives is the murderer’s
number. Who did it? The detectives do not like fractions, who does? Please help them
by setting up the equations, solving them and show all your work.
Weapons and clues working together
Their speeds
Captain Jeter
Detectives Gomez and Sanchez
VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
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THE FIFTH MYSTERY OF THE WEEK

Murder at Con Ed
Detective Sandy Freeze found a power line wrapped around the president of Con Ed’s
neck and found the following important fact: 12 % of the number of suspects is three
less than the number of weapons. How many suspects were there? After a few days she
learns that the number of weapons is 62.5% of the number of clues. Is 62.5% a decimal
number? How many weapons are there? Wait a minute; she recalls that the ratio of
fingerprints to clues is four to five. She found nineteen good fingerprints, how many
clues are there? She remembers that she has to round off all her answers to the nearest
whole number because the reports she files do not have decimal numbers. Detective
Sandy Freeze likes doing “higher Math-Calculus”, so she wonders what percent of the
VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
12
suspects is the number of weapons? What is the percentage? Finally, she discovers that
if she subtracts 33 % of the number of weapons from 25% of the sum of the number of
suspects and the number of clues, she will have the murderer’s number. Who did it?
Please help her, even though she doesn’t want to find who killed the President of Con Ed.
She still has to file the report and needs a lot of help in filling it out. Set up the equations
and show her all your work while you’re in a well-lit and warm room.
SUSPECTS WEAPONS
CLUES

VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
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SIXTH MYSTERY OF THE WEEK
Detective Rodriquez is trying to learn how Lieutenant Columbo solves his cases. After
questioning the suspects many times Detective Rodriquez discovered that if she subtracts
the number of corpses from twice the number of weapons she ends up with 4. She then
stumbled onto the fact that if she adds the number of weapons to three times the number
of corpses she now has 9.After thinking about this for a few days she learns that the
number of clues is one less than triple the motives. After further investigation she
discovers that the sum of three times the motives and clues is 11.Can all the mystery’s be
this complicated? Please help her by setting up the equations and solving them (show her
all your work).She finally realizes that five times the average of the number of weapons,
corpse, motives and clues is the murderer’s number. Who is the murderer?
WEAPONS, CORPSES MOTIVES, CLUES
VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
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VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
15
THE SEVENTH MYSTERY OF THE WEEK
ANOTHER MURDER AT CON-ED

Detective Sandy Freeze, the hero from the famous murder case at CON-ED, found The
Vice President of CON-ED in his nice warm lit office with internet and cable TV with a
utility pole on his head and a broken light bulb in his left hand. Could the utility pole be
the murder weapon? Or is this a strange, but satisfying coincidence? Detective Sandy
Freeze finds the following strange information: the sum of the number of clues squared
and six more than five times the number of clues divided by the difference of the number
of clues squared and nine is then divided by the sum of number of clues squared and two
more than three times the number of clues divided by the sum of the clues squared and
VOL 5, N 4
December 2012
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six more than seven times the number of clues. This is equal to four. How many clues
are there? Even stranger, thirteen times the number of suspects less than three times the
number of suspects squared is ten. How many suspects are there? Wait a minute, eight
times the number of motives cubed less than four times the number of motives to the
fourth is somehow thirty two times the number of motives squared. Is this any clearer
than the information you get from the CON-ED phone number? After all this hard work
Detective Freeze finally realizes that if she adds the number of clues, the number of
suspects and the number of motives she has the murderer’s number. Who did it? Please
help her by setting up the equations, solving them and show all your work.
Clues Suspects
Motives

ReadersGuadarrama
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display, and distribute this article, Elaine
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MATHEMATICS TEACHING-RESEARCH JOURNAL ONLINE

Seven Mysteries for your Algebra Class

complicated simultaneous linear equations.

Comments from my students.

formulas in word problems. Its useful for everyday math experiences”

regular problem written in letters”

good but sometimes are hard to resolve or to see an equation”

aren’t so hard to do when you are home”

dislike it is because it won’t show up on the test also there hard”

group work and after discuss it in class”

THE FIRST MYSTERY OF THE WEEK

motives, suspects and weapons. Who did it?

number 1-15 number 16-30 number 31-45

THE SECOND MYSTERY OF THE WEEK

to the smallest is 74. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He must finish his investigation

SUSPECTS AND CLUES

CASE NUMBERS FOR CORPSES CASE NUMBERS FOR WEAPONS

CASE NUMBERS FOR CLUES

THE THIRD MYSTERY OF THE WEEK

NICKELS, DIMES AND QUARTERS

30% SOLUTION OF PURE INK

number 1-15 number 16-30 number 31-45

THE FOURTH MYSTERY OF THE WEEK

Weapons and clues working together

number 1-15 number 16-30 number 31-45

THE FIFTH MYSTERY OF THE WEEK

number 1-15 number 16-30 number 31-45

SIXTH MYSTERY OF THE WEEK

WEAPONS, CORPSES MOTIVES, CLUES

number 1-15 number 16-30 number 31-45

THE SEVENTH MYSTERY OF THE WEEK

ANOTHER MURDER AT CON-ED

number 1-15 number 16-30 number 31-45

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