Joshua Gonzalez

Math 143

David DeLaby

Problem Write-Up

Problem Statement: When is the Clock Correct? (Hardest Problem)

- This problem gave me the most difficulties when trying to solve, much more than other

problems throughout the semester. The problem stated to find when a broken clock would show

the correct time. The clock was slowed by 25 minutes each day, and the clock was last correct on

March 1 at noon.

Strategy:

- I began by trying to see a pattern of the times that the clock would be behind, so I subtracted 25

minutes from 12:00 and the day now became March 2nd. I repeated this process 12 times because

on the 12th time subtracting 25 minutes that the clock lagged, I noticed it was behind 5 hours

from noon, after making a mistake. I had originally counted that every 11 days the clock fell

behind, I lost track subtracting 25 minutes from base 60. I set up a proportion that was (11/4 =

x/12) which gave me an answer of 4x=132. I solved for x (which represented the amount of days

the clock would be back on the right time), and got a solution of 33 days. After realizing that

every 12 days the clock would move back 5 hours, I set up the proper proportion (12 days/ 5

hours = x days/ 12 hours). After cross multiplying I got 144 = 5x, then I got 28.8 days when I

solved for x. I verified my answer by trying to solve using another method, I multiplied 60

minutes by 12 hours to get 720 minutes. I multiplied 60, (the amounts of minutes in an hour) and

12 hours, (the clock would be at 12 in exactly 12 hours). I then divided the 720 minutes by 25

minutes (that were lost each day) and I got an answer of 28.8 days. I presumed to answer the
question by added 28.8 days to March 1, (March 29) and found a problem with the .8 of a day. I

multiplied .8 by 24 (the amounts of hours in a day) and got 19.2 hours. This then translated into

12 hours 7 hours and 12 minutes. I added this time to March 29 and found that the clock would

be correct again on March 30 at 7:12 am to be exact.

Work:
-Proportion:
Noon March 1 Days/ Hours = Days/ Hours

Day: 1 March 2nd (-25 minutes) 11:35 First Mistake:

2. Mar. 3rd - 11:10 11/4 = x/12 4x=132 x = 33 days

3. Mar. 4th - 10:45 Correct:

12/5 = x/12 5x= 144 x = 28.8 days
4. Mar. 5th - 10:20
(Minutes x Hours)
5. Mar. 6th - 9:55 60 x 12 = 720
(Divided by amount of minutes lost per day)
6. Mar. 7th - 9:30 720/25 = 28.8 days.
-Figure Out .8 of a day
7. Mar. 8th - 9:05 .8 x 24 hours = 19.2 hours.
.2 x 60 minutes = 12 minutes
8. Mar. 9th - 8:40
(Broke that down into smaller time increments)
12 hours + 7 hours + 12 minutes.
9. Mar. 10th - 8:15

10. Mar.11th 11 - 7:50 Solution:

- Started March 1 + 28 days = March 29
11. Mar. 12th - 7:25 - March 29 + 12 hours = March 30
- March 30 + 7 hours and 12 minutes =
12. Mar. 13th 7:00 Mar. 30, 7:12 am
Solution:

- I did get a solution for the question the problem was asking to answer. I found that it would

take the clock 28.8 days in order for it to show the correct time again, which would be March 30

at 7:12 am. I think the solution is correct because I did the problem three different ways, and two

of the times I got the same answer.

Reflection:

- I really like this problem because it was a headscratcher and had complexity woven deeper into

the problem. After you find a strategy to solve the problem, one must remember that they are

working in base 60, which a challenge itself. I spent a few days on this problem and although it

was a long process, getting an answer that made sense was worth it.

5.

Problem Statement: Corey Camel (Favorite Problem)

- This problem was one of my favorite problems I was faced with this semester. This problem

dealt with a camel name Corey, that needs to cross 3,000 bananas across a 1,000-mile desert with

two limitations: he can only carry 1,000 bananas at once and Corey must one banana per mile.

The problem required a method that would help Corey the Camel get the most amount of

bananas across the desert.

Strategy: I began by trying to take a thousand bananas across, but remembered that the camel

must eat every mile so I tried going halfway. This meant that I assumed Corey the Camel could

take 1,000 bananas 500 miles but another problem occurred because he would run out of bananas

to eat. So I tried taking 1,000 bananas a quarter of the total distance, 250 miles, and would then

leave 500 bananas at a designated area where he would return. The camel would consume a total

of 500 bananas, 250 bananas there and another 250 on the way back. My strategy is to have

Corey go back and collect 1,000 of the 2,000 bananas that are still in his farm, take them to the

same location at 500 miles, and repeat the process for the last 1,000 bananas. Corey is now at the

mark of his destination, and has a total of 1,750 bananas there. Next Corey takes 1,0000

bananas and takes them another 250 miles; meaning that the camel eats 500 bananas. He is now

at the mark with 750 bananas so he takes them all to the half way point, eating 250 bananas, so
he reaches the half way point with 1,000 bananas. He now takes those bananas and travels the

remaining 500 miles, eating a banana each mile, he reaches the market with 500 bananas to sell.

First Trip

1,0000 (eats 250) 500

(2,000 left) (eats 250) Takes 1,000 500

Takes 1,000 (-250) 500 (eats 250 there and back)

(eats 250) Takes 1,000

bananas to market.
Takes 1,000 (-250) 750 Takes 750 (-250) 500 (eats 500)
Solution: Arrives with 500 bananas

- I did find a solution, although there may be alternative strategies, this one worked best and

allowed me the most reach the most amount of bananas than the prior strategies I tried. I dont

know if the solution is correct but I also tried having the camel move in smaller increments and

found he lost more bananas, so I was content with having the camel reach the market with 500

bananas because he ate a lot.

Reflection:

- I liked this problem not for the difficult level, because it wasnt that hard, but because it had

limitations to it that made it a challenge. I also found this problem to be my favorite because it is

one that I could use for my future students to challenge their problem solving skills because it

doesnt require a lot of arithmetic.