The itsy bitsy spider wants to climb up the inside of a one foot water spout. The itsy bitsy spider can climb 3 3/4 inches each day before the rain comes down and washes her back 1 1/4 inches each night. The next day the sun comes up and dries up all the rain and the itsy bitsy spider begins climbing again. Despite her discouraging progress, the itsy bitsy spider continues with this frustrating cycle until she makes it up and out of the water spout. How many days does it take the itsy bitsy spider to get out of the water spout? Show all your mathematical thinking.
the spider advances 3 3/4 - 1 1/4 = 2 1/2 inches each day
4 * 2 1/2 = 10 inches
so on the 5th day the spider makes it to the top
To determine how many days it takes the itsy bitsy spider to get out of the water spout, we need to calculate the net progress she makes each day. The spider climbs 3 3/4 inches each day, and then slides back 1 1/4 inches each night due to the rain.
Net progress each day = climb distance - slide distance
Net progress each day = (3 3/4 inches) - (1 1/4 inches)
Net progress each day = 3 3/4 - 1 1/4
Net progress each day = 2 1/2 inches
Now we need to determine how many times the spider needs to make this net progress to reach the top of the water spout, which is one foot or 12 inches.
Number of days needed = total distance to cover / net progress per day
Number of days needed = 12 inches / 2 1/2 inches
To simplify this division, we can convert the mixed number (2 1/2) to an improper fraction.
Number of days needed = 12 inches / (5/2) inches
Next, we need to divide the distance by the fraction.
Number of days needed = (12 inches) x (2/5)
Number of days needed = 24/5
To find the exact number of days, we divide the numerator by the denominator.
Number of days needed = 24 รท 5
Number of days needed = 4 remainder 4
So, it takes the itsy bitsy spider 4 full days to climb up and out of the water spout.
To solve this problem, we need to calculate how many days it takes for the itsy bitsy spider to climb up and out of the water spout.
First, let's calculate the net distance the spider climbs each day:
The spider climbs 3 3/4 inches each day.
Then, the rain washes her back 1 1/4 inches each night.
So, the net distance the spider climbs each day is:
3 3/4 inches - 1 1/4 inches = 2 1/2 inches.
Now, let's calculate the total distance the spider needs to climb to get out of the water spout:
The inside of the water spout is one foot, which is equal to 12 inches.
Now, let's divide the total distance by the net distance the spider climbs each day to find out how many days it will take:
12 inches / 2 1/2 inches = 4.8 days.
Since we cannot have a fraction of a day, we need to round up to the nearest whole day. Therefore, it will take the itsy bitsy spider 5 days to climb out of the water spout.
So, the answer is that it will take the itsy bitsy spider 5 days to get out of the water spout.