Word Problem Wednesday: Jack & The Beanstalk

Mar 1, 2017

Fee-fi-fo-fum, we smell mathematical proportion fun!

A fairytale favorite is the inspiration for today's Word Problem Wednesday.  See if you can solve this teaser and check back tomorrow for the answer.

Jack casts an 8' shadow.  If Jack is 5' tall, then how tall is a bean stalk that casts a 1,600' shadow?

Update:  Here's the solution!

Jack is five-eighths of his shadow's length.  So, the bean stalk's height will be five-eighths of its shadow's length.  One eighth of 1,600 feet is 200 feet, so five eighths of 1,600 feet is 200 x 5 = 1,000 feet.

 

Illustration: David Creighton-Pester via WanderingBert.com

SEE HOW MATHNASIUM WORKS FOR YOUR SITUATION

Answer a few questions to see how it works

My Child is:

arrow
arrow

OUR METHOD WORKS

Mathnasium meets your child where they are and helps them with the customised program they need, for any level of mathematics.

HELP YOUR CHILD ACHIEVE THEIR FULL MATHS POTENTIAL

We have over 1,100 centres and we're expanding rapidly in the UK. Get started now.
  • Find a centre near you
  • Get a maths skills assessment for your child
  • Receive your child's customised learning plan
arrow
Get Started by Finding a Local Centre