Friday, June 26, 2009

How many campers in a bunk?

Open day in a summer camp. A prospective family comes in, observes camp pictures and asks "How many campers do you have in a bunk? Around 100?"
"No, far away from a 100" - answers the camp director.
"If we would double the amount of kids in one bunk, add to it half of the amount of kids in a bunk, and then add another quarter of the amount of kids in a bunk, and then add your son, then we would have a 100."
How many kids are there in a bunk?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just wrote and equation that 2x+1/2x+1/4x+1=100 then solve for x. where x equals how many kids in a bunk.

Kalonni said...

If x = bunk
2x+.5x+.25x+1=100
2.75x+1=100
2.75x=99
x=36

Maria said...

Anonymous, you are absolutely right!
Kalonni - you are as well, but Anonymous was first.
Anonymous, if you want to receive a prize by solving 3 puzzles, please write your first name in the next comment.

New puzzle is coming at midnight. Check in early.

Kalonni said...

Understood, but I really don't understand the formula they posted... Could someone explain please?

Maria said...

Kalonni, I think the formula that you posted:
2x+.5x+.25x+1=100
is identical to the one Anonymous came up with: 2x+1/2x+1/4x+1=100

math notations are confusing in a text, but 1/2x here means 1/2 times x.
Welcome to the Marathon!
Feel free to email me your puzzles.

Kalonni said...

I wasn't reading it as a 1/2... Silly me! Thanks for the explanation!

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