Grade 4 Word Problem

Question

A teacher is taking his class to see a play. There are 24 students. The auditorium has 11 seats per row. There will be an adult placed at the beginning and end of each row, as well as after every 4 students. The teacher sits by himself. Including the teacher how many adults will be attending the play?

Answer 1

The teacher sits by himself implies that no student or adult is sitting next to him (or her).

ASSSSASSSSA

ASSSSASSSSA

ASSSSASSSSA

T

Count.

 

Answer 2

Geoffrey, I think the best method for you to solve this is by working it out in your head.  However, since this is difficult, keep track of what you are thinking by putting it down on paper.

 

 

Draw four rows of eleven seats (representing the physical space).

 

Now note that we can only work eleven at a time and start creating your formula:

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

 

 

Now, Note that you need an adult at each end of the rows.

[A] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [A]
[A] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [A]
[A] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [A]

[A] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [A]

 

Now start filling with kids until you get to 24 while remembering to include an adult after every 4 students.

[A] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [A]
[A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A]
[A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A]
[A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A]

 

 

Now you have 24 students, but wait... there is still two 'leftover' adults in the top row.

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A]
[A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A]
[A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A]

 

Always re-read the question to make sure everything is accounted for...  We need the teacher.

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [A]
[A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A]
[A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A]
[A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A] [S] [S] [S] [S] [A]

 

Count the adults including the teacher and you have your answer!