A mother has been left puzzled by her seven-year-old son's maths homework, a problem so complex that even a professor could not make sense of it. Teresa Hopper took to the Facebook group Family Lockdown Tips and Tricks to ask for help, writing: 'I hate homework. Please help! Is the answer to a) & b) the same or am I missing something?!'
The question states: 'Karla says: I have three hundreds counters, 17 tens counters and 16 ones counters. a) Can she make two equal three-digit numbers? If so, draw the counters to show them. b) Can she make two equal three-digit numbers if she had to use all her counters? If so, draw the counters to show them.'
One group member replied: 'I have a PhD in maths, and I have no idea what this question is asking. Unless there’s a diagram to go with it, or more explanation somewhere else.' Another added: 'I'm lost.' The post received dozens of responses, with many parents expressing confusion.
Fiona Goddard, senior education consultant at Maths-Whizz, provided the solution. For part (a), not all counters need to be used, so there are many possible three-digit numbers between 100 and 243. For part (b), the total of 486 must be divided into two equal groups of 243. One possible grouping is: Group 1 with two hundred counters, four ten counters and three one counters; Group 2 with one hundred counter, 13 ten counters and 13 one counters.
