Friday, November 5, 2010

Blog #3: Listing Attributes of a Problem

When considering a problem to solve, it is helpful to think of all the characteristics or attributes of the information given.  It is important to 'think outside of the box' and really expand your thinking to find a solution.
For example, in the problem below make a list of everything you may or may not need to solve the problem.  DO NOT state what your answer is, yet.  Instead, list the facts you think you may need to find the answer.

Problem #1
A printer uses 837 digits to number the pages of a book.  How many pages are there in the book?

Let's start the list with the following:
     1.  Each sheet in a book contains a front and a back page.  The front will be page 1 and the back will be page 2.


I want everyone to add one attribute they think will be needed to solve this problem.  Do not add an attribute that has already been used.  If you have any questions, see me in class.

25 comments:

  1. 1. The cover of the book will not be counted as a page number

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  2. 1. The cover of the book won't be counted as a page number, because they are part of the book. Not actually a page.

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  3. The cover of the book wouldn't be counted as a page number to me.

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  4. if you take away the cover there would be418 pages in the book

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  5. One attribute would be to not include the conver in the 837 digits, because as many others said, the cover does not count as a page.

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  6. Savannah L. Period 4November 11, 2010 at 8:17 PM

    the cover of the book wouldnt be counted, because it isnt actually part of the book.

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  7. savannah L. Period 4November 11, 2010 at 8:18 PM

    you wouldnt know how many pages there were either because it doesnt tell you how many digits per page.

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  8. As mostly everyone has said, the cover wouldn't be counted as a page. Also, the blank pages in the front and back shouldn't be counted either, because they are just there and don't teach you anything.

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  9. so to find the amount of digits you will do 837x2 fpr each page with how many pages you have divide by 2 then x it by the number of pages but you dont count the hard cover of a book

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  10. The cover of the book wouldn't be counted as a page of the book.

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  11. duncan sutton,
    The back cover should not be counted as a oage number either because it i not a page it is part of what holds the pages together.

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  12. Noah H.
    4 Period

    One atribute is that if the book ends on the front of the page the back doesn't count.

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  13. The Pages in the Back of the book that have the 'Authors note' and things like that should not be counted.

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  14. Well if there are 837 digits then once you get to the double or triple digit numbers then you will take away 1 for one digit numbers, 2 for two digit numbers, and 3 for three digit numbers.

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  15. There are the pages with 2 digit numbers and some with 3.

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  16. The pages between the cover and the first page with actual story may count as pages depending on the publisher. So the first pagee of the story, Chapter 1, may come on page six because the pages with the "Thanks you my cousin Billy" etc may count as page 1-5.

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  17. You need to realize it is 837 digits not 837 pages. So you have to count keeping that in mind

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  18. I so agree with ryan but as everyone else said the cover does not count. And I think that that was what Ryan was saying in different words.

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  19. Yes i agree with Karmyn and Ryan, i was thinking that before i read the posts like pages 1-10 would be 55 digits if you thought about it so this problem is more work than it seems.

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  20. Nov. 18:
    I have enjoyed reading your responses. Some of you were a little too focused on the front and back cover issue, but overall your comments were terrific! Some of you commented on the previous person's remarks which is great, I want you to be doing that! It was important to not be redundant in the respones, I want new ideas, not repetition.
    I have decided that those of you who responded to this point, Nov. 18th, will earn 5 points extra credit for your efforts. Great Job!
    Keep it going, what else do we need to consider when solving this problem? Think a little deeper and start thinking how to actually solve it. Again, do not give what you believe to be the answer, instead start submitting your ideas on how you would solve it.
    Ms. Tripp

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  21. joshua crowder period 5November 22, 2010 at 5:29 PM

    You would need to not count the cover as a page and then start counting, and every time you counted a number write down how many digits it has then you would keep doing that until you counted 837 digits and that would be how many pages that there were in the book.

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  22. joshua crowder period 5November 22, 2010 at 5:33 PM

    You would need to not count the cover as a page then start counting, and every time you counted a number you would write down how many digits it has then keep doing that until you counted 837 digits.

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  23. joshua crowder period 5November 22, 2010 at 5:35 PM

    Sorry I accidentally retyped that.

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  24. will not count as a page of the book.

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