Challenge 5 - Painting the flats
Challenge 5 is all about fractions.
Maths teacher Chris Smith and pupils from Grange Academy are here to explain.
The Maths Week Scotland Daily Challenges have been set by the Scottish Mathematical Council.
Mr Smith: This problem is all about fractions.
The Hillside Estate on the edge of the city consists of eight tower blocks. Each tower block has nine floors and each floor has ten flats.
The council painters have just arrived and they’re wondering just how many flats need to be painted this year.
Two in five of the flats are privately owned, so they will not be painted by the council.
Of the rest, one in four flats will be left to next year.
How many flats are to be painted by the council this year?
Explain your answer.
Pupil: You could draw this out or use blocks to help you visualise this problem.
Pupil: It might help to work through this in separate stages.
Pupil: Think about how you work with fractions.
Pupil: Good luck!
So here's the challenge:
This problem is all about fractions.
The Hillside Estate on the edge of the city consists of eight tower blocks.
Each tower block has nine floors and each floor has ten flats.
The council painters have just arrived and they’re wondering just how many flats need to be painted this year.
Two in five of the flats are privately owned, so they will not be painted by the council.
Of the rest, one in four flats will be left to next year.
How many flats are to be painted by the council this year?
Need a hint?
- You could draw this out or use blocks to help you visualise this problem.
- It might help to work through this in separate stages.
- Think about how you work with fractions.
Maths problem solving. collection
Try out Maths Week Scotland challenges from previous years.
Maths Week Scotland. External Link
Find more maths challenges and activities at the Maths Week Scotland website.
