Summer’s here, but you’re missing your math? Don’t despair – we’ve got you covered. Check the site each week for one whopper of a word problem that’s sure to challenge!

This week’s problem comes from Brain Maths 2 by Tan Thoo Liang, published in 2007 by Panpac Education Private Limited. (For ages 11 and up)

There are 8 people on committee A and 9 people on committee B. If 5 people serve on both committees, how many people serve on only one of the committees?

Submit your solutions and we’ll post all interesting strategies next week.

Last week’s problem and solution:

Two plates and 3 bowls weigh 2 1/5 lbs. Five plates and 6 bowls weigh 4 9/10 lbs. Find the weight of one plate.

Whew! How did you do?

Solutions from our fabulous followers:

Kris Simonson:

Shirley Davis:

Summer’s here, but you’re missing your math? Don’t despair – we’ve got you covered. Check the site each week for one whopper of a word problem that’s sure to challenge!

This week’s problem comes from Math in Focus Enrichment 4A by Ang Kok Cheng, published in 2015 by Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited.

Two plates and 3 bowls weigh 2 1/5 lbs. Five plates and 6 bowls weigh 4 9/10 lbs. Find the weight of one plate.

Submit your solutions and we’ll post all interesting strategies next week.

Last week’s problem and solution:

A grocer sold a carton of apples to some customers. The first customer tasted one apple and bought half the remaining apples. The second and third customers did the same. The fourth customer also tasted one apple and bought the remaining 23 apples. How many apples were there in the carton at first?

Whew! How did you do?

Once again, reader Shirley Davis submitted a solution:

Summer’s here, but you’re missing your math? Don’t despair – we’ve got you covered. Check the site each week for one whopper of a word problem that’s sure to challenge!

This week’s problem comes from an oldie, but goodie: Mathematics Topical Worksheets 6A by Lawrence Loh, published in 2001 by SNP Education Pte Ltd.

There are 3/5 as many cows as sheep on a farm. If there are 240 cows and sheep altogether, how many more sheep than cows are there?

Submit your solutions and we’ll post all interesting strategies next week.

Last week’s problem and solution:

Rae bought 100 oranges and 46 apples. After she used an equal number of oranges and apples for making fruit juice. The ratio of her remaining oranges to apples became 5:2. Find the total number of oranges and apples she used.

Whew! How did you do?

Here’s a solution sent in by reader Shirley Davis:

Summer’s here, but you’re missing your math? Don’t despair – we’ve got you covered. Check the site each week for one whopper of a word problem that’s sure to challenge!

This week’s problem comes from Fan-Math i-EXCEL Heuristic and Model Approach Primary 5 by Li Fanglan, published in 2008 by FAN Learning Publications.

Rae bought 100 oranges and 46 apples. After she used an equal number of oranges and apples for making fruit juice. The ratio of her remaining oranges to apples became 5:2. Find the total number of oranges and apples she used.

Submit your solutions and we’ll post all interesting strategies next week.

Last week’s problem and solution:

117 children took part in an art competition. 2/7 the number of girls is equal to 1/3 the number of boys. How many girls took part in the art competition?

How did you do?