Tree Frog

A Maths Starter of The Day

Kermit calculated that the average number of flies eaten per minute by this tree frog is

1.090909091

He found this by dividing a whole number of flies by a whole number of minutes. What were those two whole numbers?

Calculators are allowed!

 

 

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"What is the answer to November 6ths starter of the day?"

Vanessa Howe, howesvc@aol.com
Monday, November 06, 2006

 

"Its 108/99. I used it today before i did "changing recurring decimals into fractions Y10 MOD 3."

Sarah, Newcastle
Monday, November 06, 2006

 

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Answers

This problem can be solved by "trial and improvement" or as follows.

Let us assume that the calculator Kermit used has rounded of a recurring decimal. Let this number be x.

x = 1.090909....

100x = 109.090909.....

Subtract the first equation from the second

99x = 108

x = 108/99

x = 12/11

So the two numbers were 12 and 11 (or any multiples of them).

12 flies in 11 minutes!