Tuesday, October 16, 2007


PROBLEM

OF THE

WEEK #8

The members of the school marching band wanted to arrange themselves into rows with exactly the same number of band members in each row. They tried rows of 2, 3, and 4, but there was always one band member left over. Finally they were able to arrange themselves into rows with exactly 5 in each row. What is the least number of members in the marching band?

18 comments:

aaron said...

I think it is a trick question. It can't be any even numbers, because 2 goes into ever even number. So 5 rows works. 3 doesn't go into 5 rows. So 5 rows works. 4 doesn't do into 5 rows so that works.

anonymous said...

if i understood correctly 25 perhaps???
it sais rows so it can't be 5 but then it can't be 2,3,or 4 so im guessing 25 ppl.

Ben H. said...

if you put 5 band members in 2 you would have 10 band members. if you put 5 band members in 3 rows you would have 15 band members. and if you put 5 band members in 4 rows you would have 20 band members.

scotty said...

to my perticular nolage the answer is 25 becaus that 2 3 4 cant go into them

Maital said...

Can you have like 10 because 2 also goes into it? If not i agree the answer is 25

Mrs. Cooper said...

GOOD WORK Y'ALL!
How might 10 relate to having 5 in a row?

Mrs. Cooper said...

Also, keep this in mind. If there are rows of 2 with one left over that means that the number of band members has to be an odd number. (right?)
And if there are rows of 3 with one left over, then the number of band members has to be one more than a multple of three. . . and so on...

peyton said...

I agree, I think it is 25. 2,3,4 don't go into it so it has to be 25.

Sophia said...

Ya, I agree with you all, because there was i person left over every time. mabey 2 times 12, 3 times 8, 4 times six. Each has one left over and they all = 24 so.......

Sophia said...

I think the answer is 25 because 1 plus 24 = 25!!!!

Sophia said...

And because 5 goes into 25 5 times

Mrs. Cooper said...

Good comments!
Can anyone suggest how you went about finding the answer?

Maital said...

Because five is the only number that goes into the answer without any other numbers also going in. Everything else does

myles said...

I agree with Maital and Sophia if you multiply 2x3x4 that gives you 24 than you have to add that extra person whitch gives you 25 and 5 goes into 25.

Sarah said...

Hey everyone! Great work on this problem.

I think it would also be helpful to think about what OTHER numbers of musicians could be in the band to fulfill the same requirements (except that it wouldn't be the LEAST number.) That might give you some ideas about how to justify your answer! What do you think?

Maital said...

You could try different numbers and if 2 or 3 or 4 goes into them it isn't the answer

Ethan said...

how many members are on the band

Ben H. said...

you have a list of: 2,3,4,and 5. but 2 is even,therefore it does not go into 5. a list of: 3,4, and 5. 3 times 2 = 6 so 3 does not go into 5. a list of: 4, and 5. 4 times 2 equals 8, so 4 does not go into 5. a list of: 5, you have to use 5 therefore you get 25!