THINKING CREATIVELY

Read the traditional school maths questions and answer using mathematical
reasoning

1) It took two hours for two men to dig a hole two meters deep. How deep would it
have been if ten men had dug for two hours?

(Now consider the same question, but with some following things in mind

- the deeper the hole is the more effort is required to dig, because waste soil has to
be lifted higher to the ground level

- ten men would need more room to work side-by-side and so may need to dig the
hole wider rather than deeper

- deeper soil layers may be harder to dig out. You may hit rock or water)

2) RED LIGHT

Two police officers were waiting in the car at red traffic lights when a teenager in a
sports car drove past them at 60 kph.The officers did not drive after him or try to
stop him. Why not?

3) BOTTLE IN THE BAG

There were six bottles of water in a bag. Six people each took one of the bottles.

Can you explain how there was still one bottle left in the bag?

4) CROSSING THE RIVER

Two men came to a river. There was a boat that could take only one man at a time.
Both men crossed. How did they do this?

5) THE BEST BUILDER

A city council wanted to construct a new council building and they received
tenders from 100 building companies. Each company presented their qualifications
and claimed to be the best builder in the city. How did the council choose the
company for the job?