Algebra 1B Ch.

11

A Phone Tree

Name: ________________

Annas parents were concerned about all the time she was spending on the phone. They decided to limit her calls to the period from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on school nights. The parents of Annas friends adopted the same rule. Anna and her friends have decided they need a more efficient way of spreading news, because long phone conversations seem out of the question. By experimenting, they have found that allowing three minutes per phone call gives them enough time to tell someone the essentials of most situations. (Three minutes includes the time needed to place the call and get the right person on the line.) So heres their plan: The next time Anna learns something that she thinks everyone will want to hear, she will call Mike at exactly 8:00. That call will take three minutes. Then, at 8:03, Anna will call Dina while Mike calls Tom. After they all finish talking, those four will each call someone else, and so on.

Anna

Mik e

To m

Din a

Your task in this problem is to figure out how many of Annas friends could hear the news by 9:00. In analyzing the situation, you should make certain assumptions. It always takes three minutes to make a connection and complete a call. No one calls a person who has already been called. The caller never gets a busy signal. You can (and should feel free to) discuss this problem with others. However, you will be graded on a write-up (on a separate piece of paper) that includes: An explanation of the problem All of your work, done neatly and accompanied by explanations Your solution and an explanation of why you think that it is correct If you received assistance from anyone, please describe it in detail where it applies.