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Answers
There are 10 different five step routes from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
Los Angeles - 7 - 6 - 1 - 7 - Los Vegas [Total = 21]
Los Angeles - 7 - 6 - 3 - 7 - Los Vegas [Total = 23]
Los Angeles - 7 - 6 - 3 - 4 - Los Vegas [Total = 20]
Los Angeles - 7 - 9 - 3 - 7 - Los Vegas [Total = 26]
Los Angeles - 7 - 9 - 3 - 4 - Los Vegas [Total = 23]
Los Angeles - 7 - 9 - 5 - 4 - Los Vegas [Total = 25]
Los Angeles - 6 - 9 - 3 - 7 - Los Vegas [Total = 25]
Los Angeles - 6 - 9 - 3 - 4 - Los Vegas [Total = 22]
Los Angeles - 6 - 9 - 5 - 4 - Los Vegas [Total = 24]
Los Angeles - 6 - 8 - 5 - 4 - Los Vegas [Total = 23]
So the cheapest route costs 20 (dollars). Here is a way of getting that total:
| Los Angeles | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| 6 | 9 | 3 | 7 |
| 8 | 5 | 4 | Las Vegas |
You can view another version of this starter generated from random numbers. Puzzle 1 is the easiest, puzzle 5 is very difficult.
Note to teacher: Doing this activity once with a class helps students develop strategies. It is only when they do this activity a second time that they will have the opportunity to practise those strategies. That is when the learning is consolidated. Click the button above to regenerate another version of this starter from random numbers.
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Teacher, do your students have
access to computers? Do you have "Laptops in Lessons"? Whether your students each have a TabletPC or share a desktop PC, this activity lends itself to eLearning (Engaged Learning). |
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Students can make their own version of this "Route to Las Vegas" activity using a spreadsheet. The size of the grid can be varied and the random function can be used.
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