April 22 Math Bee

Winner: Scott Matthews

Winner Scott Matthews (2nd from right) with hosts Andrew and Jen and runners-up Viveca and Alex

This month's math bee began, as usual, with "Fifteen Seconds in Math Heaven."  For instance, imagine I start the clock and then ask you:

12 times 11! (132)

Fifteen quarters and five dimes! ($4.25)

80 minutes after 9:32! (10:52)

Etc....  Contestants picked up anywhere from zero to four points in this endeavor.  

In round two, contestants answered longer, more involved questions, and could use the whiteboard.  Here is one question from this past week (written by Andrew Singer):

You're on a distant planet when you run into a hot babe. When you first see her, she has 12 arms, 18 legs and 5 heads. Each leg weighs 30 pounds, each arm is 20 pounds, and each head is 40 pounds. All of a sudden, she morphs so that she has 8 heads and 12 legs. Assuming her weight remains the same, how many arms does she end up with?

Jen commented that this problem illustrated "the law of conservation of hot babe."  (The answer is 15).

In the third and final round, in which all questions are posed to all contestants and speed is of the essence, Scott pulled ahead by calculating with lightning speed.

See you next week for Team Trivia!