Problems and solutions

Week Twenty-eight
Question 1.

Emer and Jemma have an average age of 27, and Emer is 4 years older than Jemma. How
old are they?

Solution

Suppose Emer’s age is E and Jemma’s age is J, then

(E + J) / 2 = 27

So

i) E + J = 54 and ii) E – J = 4

Adding i) and ii) we get

2E = 58 i.e. E = 29, and so, J = 25

Emer is 29 and Jemma is 25.

Question 2.

VAT on meals is reduced from 20% to 5% and this reduction is passed on to the customer.
What fraction of the original price does the customer now pay?

Solution

If the price before VAT is p, then the price at 20% VAT is 1.20p and the price at 5% VAT is
1.05p.

The fraction paid is therefore 1.05p / 1.20p = 105 / 120 = 7 / 8

Question 3.

The diagram below shows the first four triangular numbers.

How many triangular numbers below 2020 are divisible by 7?

Solution
Tn = ½ n(n + 1)

This is divisible by 7 if n or (n + 1) is.

½ 63. 64 = 2016

So the triangular numbers up to n = 63 are below 2020.

For every seven Tn there are two numbers divisible by 7.

So number divisible by 7 below 2020 is 9 x 2 = 18

Question 4.

If x + y = -3 and xy = 4 what does x³ + y³ equal?

Solution

x + y = -3 and xy = 4

(x + y)³ = x³ + 3 x²y + 3 x y² + y³

x³ + y³ = (x + y)³ - 3xy (x + y)

= (-3)³ - 3(4)(-3)

= -27 + 36

=9