Homework Help: Math

Posted by Emily on Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 10:59am.

Okay .. did you see my last answer? I think it is 5

But now I have another one and I think I know the answer but there is a trick question at the end. Maybe you can tell me if it is a trick or if it something I am missing.

A golf classic starts with 64 golfers. The golfers form pairs and each pair plays a match. The losers drop out and the winners of each pair then form new pairs and play again. Thenk those winners form pairs and play. this continues until there is one winner.
a) In how many matches must the winner play (and my answer is 5)

b)(the trick question)
How many matches are played by all the golfers to determine the winner?
Well it seems too easy to be real .. cuz I think it would be just one match since it says ALL golfers and after one match, half of them have to stop playing because they lost.
Am I right?
Thanks again.
emily

Math - Ms. Sue, Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 11:40am
I come up with a different answer for the first question.

You start with 32 pairs. The first contest has 16 matches which yield 16 winners. The second match has 8 matches which yield 8 winners. Keep this pattern going to see if your answer is right.

You could interpret the second question in the way you did. Each golfer played at least one match. However, the question may be asking how many total matches there were before a winner was declared.
- Math - Emily, Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 11:54am
  I am confused .. with 64 golfers forming pairs which equal 32, and each pair plays a match, wouldn't that be 32 matches to start with, concluding with 16 winners? ... and that set would form new partners, which would make 8 pairs ending with 4 winners, down to 2 pair with 1 winner ... what am I doing wrong? thank you for your help.
Math - Ms. Sue, Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 12:04pm
You're right, Emily. I goofed on my original figures. There were 5 matches to determine a winner.

1st match -- 32 pairs, 16 matches and 16 winners
2nd match -- 16 pairs, 8 matches and 8 winners
3rd match -- 8 pairs, 4 matches and 4 winners
4th match -- 4 pairs, 4 matches and 2 winners
5th match -- 2 pairs, 1 match and 1 winner

Thanks for catching my mistake. That's why it's always a good idea to make sure you understand an answer, no matter who tells you differently.
- Math THANK YOU! - Emily, Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 2:23pm
  WoW ... You made my day! ... Thank you .. this one gets copied and printed for mom :-) .. (i keep telling her this is not 4th grade math! lol! but she likes to keep me thinking) thanks again, it is great to have people that help us! ... have a great day!
  Emily
  - Math THANK YOU! - Ms. Sue, Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 4:54pm
    The main point, Emily, is that YOU were able to do it. Not only that, but you were confident enough to challenge my answer. And you were right! :-)
    - hyoqkvr lyrb - dtosw fqpcisen, Friday, October 26, 2007 at 11:05am
      dvoxflc pizyvj wnfp fzox kwxedfulg gzwremsj nyitxfba

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