Name: Sandra ak.

William
Sair

Problem 1 : Boxes of
greeting cards

Wilson Middle School students are selling boxes of greeting cards. The
cards were shipped in 3 cartons, each 54 inches high. Each box of cards is 2
inches high, and the boxes were packed inside the cartons in layers. There are 8
boxes to a layer. The student council gets $1.50 profit for each box sold.

How much profit wills the student council earn if all the boxes of cards are
sold?

Solution:
Step 1: Understanding the problem
The unknown – how much profit wills
For this problem, I decided to use draw a picture as my strategy. This is
because it is easier to understand and to look at.

There are 3 cartons; so 1 carton is 54 inches high. Each box of cards is 2 inches
high. So,
54 inch ÷ 2 inch = 27 layers

So, for 1 carton, which is 54 inches high, there are 27 layers of with 8
boxes to a layer.

8 boxes to a layer
 54 inches

2 inches high

From what we know just now, 54 inches have 27 layers. This will be able to make
us know how much boxes of cards are there in 1 carton.

27 x 8 = 216 boxes of cards

So, 1 carton has 216 boxes of cards.

If 1 carton has 216 boxes of cards, 3 cartons will have:

216 x 3 = 648

So, 3 cartons will have 648 boxes of cards.

Each box sold will get $1.50 profit. If all the boxes of cards are sold, the profit
they will get is:

648 boxes of cards x $1.50

= $972.00

To check the answers, we can still use the diagram and times the number of
columns and rows. You can also say it as a rectangular array.
24 x 27 =648
 In solving this problem, I had use a diagram to help me. I found that it is
much more easier to understand the problem when a diagram is drawn. When
you look at the diagram it is much more clearer to look for the unknown. Through
looking at the diagram I can easily imagine how the boxes of greetings cards are
arranged and lead me to the solution.
This is because when you draw the diagram; automatically there will be
new information there where you get from relating it to the information that has
already been given.

Difficulties:
When I try to understand the problem, I had difficulty in understanding the
language used. I had to look for those words in dictionary to help me understand
and asked some friends to explain what’s the meaning. Besides, the problem
was quite tricky for me.
I also found difficulty in drawing the diagram at first but the I manage to
solve the problems I face by drawing it step by step and imagine a little bit how
does it look like in order to get the diagram.
Finally, I manage to find the solution, I was very happy and I learn that one
or two information will lead to another information. For me, using diagram in
applicable problem will make it much more easier to find the solution.
Sometimes, even the answer is in the diagram that you had drawn. It is much
more faster and easy to look for understanding.