Word Problem Challenge!

[SPC (Ret) Ciancio]

Word problem 1. Go!

A man wishes to construct a poultry house 12 feet long in which to keep 20 hens. If each hen requires 4 square feet of floor space, how wide should he construct the poultry house?

a) 28 feet

b) 80 feet

c) 5 feet

d) 6 feet, 8 inches

e) none of these answers

PLEASE PROVIDE CLEAR INSTRUCTION ON HOW YOU SOLVED IT

[A. Lawman]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Total area needed -> 20 (hens) * 4 (sq. ft.) = 80 sq. ft.
Total area = length * width
80 sq. ft. = 12 ft. * x ft. -> solve for x by dividing both sides of equation by 12 ft.
6.667 ft. = x
.667 * 12 in. = 8 in. -> multiply .667 ft. by (12 in.)/(1 ft.)
Building size = 12ft. long x 6 ft.-8 in. wide -> d.

[Capt (Ret) Soto]

Of course it would be the engineer...

[M. Woods]

I hate math! So let's simplify this,
1x satchel charge x 20 chickens= 1 Family meal from Chicken Express.

Good job Lawman!

[SPC (Ret) Ciancio]

Nicely done!

[SPC (Ret) Ciancio]

Word Problem 2. Go!

A car has to travel a distance of 15 miles. If it does the first two-thirds of the distance at 40mph, and the last third at 60mph, the total number of minutes required for the entire drive is most nearly:

a) 15

b) 20

c) 22-1/2

d) 25

[SFC (Ret) M. Brewer]

Are you using us to pass some kind of final exam or something?!?   

[Capt (Ret) Soto]

b) 20

2/3 of 15 miles equals 10 miles

15 / 3 = 5

5 * 2 = 10

40mph = 10 miles * time

10 miles / 40 mph = time

time = .25 hr

.25 hr * 60 = 15 minutes

60 mph = 1 mile per minute

5 minutes + 15 minutes = 20 minutes

[Capt (Ret) Soto]

Are you using us to pass some kind of final exam or something?!?   

Agreed.  I second the notion.

[SPC (Ret) Ciancio]

Are you using us to pass some kind of final exam or something?!?   

Trying my luck at the airport firefighter exam. I dont think I am smart enough with math

[Capt (Ret) Soto]

Are you using us to pass some kind of final exam or something?!?   

Trying my luck at the airport firefighter exam. I dont think I am smart enough with math

If it goes anything like the DHS test I took for CBP, you'll walk out wondering why you were concerned.

I do sympathize however: when I had to relearn all the crap I haven't used since middle school, I was taken aback by how much I forgot.  DHS didn't let us use a calculator either.  I had to reacquaint myself with long division and algebra on paper.  I was watching youtube videos :'D like a 5th grader.  Kids these days have it easy what with all this interwebs and stuff.  And here I was thinking two decades ago 'This is dumb.  I'll always have a calculator somewhere near by...'.  Damn you Mrs. Black for being right!

[A. Lawman]

Trying my luck at the airport firefighter exam. I dont think I am smart enough with math

You'll be fine! Its just like any other skill...if you don't use it, you'll lose it. I would recommend https://www.khanacademy.org/math for a refresher. That site really helped me get through my differential equations course at University.

[SPC (Ret) Ciancio]

Thanks for the support guys