A Number!

When written as a word; what is the smallest positive whole number with the letter "a" in it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some think the answer is a thousand,
others think one hundred and one.
(see comments below)

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"Your answer for the smallest integer with the letter "a" in it is misleading or wrong.

One Hundred And One ..."

Paul Boothroyd, Manor School and Sports College
Friday, September 29, 2006

 

"We also think that one hundred And one is smaller than one thousand"

8S3, Kettlethorpe High School
Wednesday, October 04, 2006

 

"We believe that one hundred and one is the smallest number with an a in it."

Bradley Clark, bradclark10@hotmail.com
Wednesday, October 04, 2006

 

"I have always taught students that the and is only used for decimals. One hundred and one would be 100.1. 101 would be One hundred one. This would make 1000 the correct answer."

Mark, Manor School
Friday, October 06, 2006

 

"We think the answer is 8 because it has an "a" in it "

John and A2 maths, Milton Keynes
Tuesday, October 10, 2006

 

"My year 9 group also said "ate" (as did my teaching assistant.)As for One hundred AND one , the AND is a connective NOT a number. We had fun with this today and would like to see more literacy and maths starters especially since we have a lot of EAL students."

Debs, Bognor Regis CC
Tuesday, October 10, 2006

 

"If "and" is not allowed in one hundred "and" one then it should not be allowed in thous"and" either!"

Mr. Mauceri, Aylesford School - Sports College, Kent, UK
Sunday, October 15, 2006

 

"How can you say the word thousand, without the "and" at the end, it doesn't make sense...... its part of the word, I think that both can be correct in this instance, using and is perfectly acceptable, its used world wide"

Mary, Qatar
Thursday, November 16, 2006

 

"Kirsty says that it is a thousand because "and" isn't a number."

Kirsty, 8B1
Thursday, October 04, 2007

 

"Just returned to this problem, and noticed the "...a word...", I must have been persuaded by my class last year."

Paul Boothroyd, Whitehaven
Tuesday, October 09, 2007

 

"We think it's 101 as 'and' is essential to the number when written down."

M. Flint and 7H, Hagley Park Sports College
Thursday, October 11, 2007

 

"How about one and ten tenths?"

Mr Macarthur,
Wednesday, November 07, 2007

 

"Here’s a variation on this theme:

Teacher: “I challenge you all to see who can come up with the most words that don’t contain the letters A, B or C in 30 seconds. Go!”

Students: “Sky… Pie … Moon … Lesson… etc” [They will typically come up with around 10 words in the 30 seconds]

Teacher: “Now it’s my turn. Go! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen etc” [It will be very easy for the Teacher to beat the students]"

Transum,
Monday, February 25, 2008

 

"How about two halves ?"

Mr Bannister, Garforth Community College
Monday, October 06, 2008

 

"101 Is "One Hundred One" There is no and... Common misconception... Therefore One Thousand is the correct answer."

Jonathan Stevens, UNBSJ
Monday, October 06, 2008

 

"A Hundred!"

Irene, Harrow, Beijing
Tuesday, October 07, 2008

 

"We at Holyrood (mrs O'hagan's class),think this is a bit of a 'scam'..in otherwords a bit of a trick question! We like 'ate' but are divided between one thousand, and one hundred and one."

class 1P5, Holyrood Sec School Glasgow
Tuesday, October 07, 2008

 

"We believe that one hundred and one is the correct answer since you asked for the word with 'a' in it. "

Craigdhu Primary, P6/7
Tuesday, October 07, 2008

 

"We've actually spent more time discussing everyone's comments rather than the answer. It was jolly good fun!"

11n5, Sleaford
Tuesday, October 07, 2008

 

"It got my class thinking!
All was sure that it was: 'One hundred AND one'
Very good starters to get you thinking and debate about!"

Mr Smith + whole lot of clever students in set 5., Derby
Tuesday, October 07, 2008

 

"Four in French, Quatre"

Year 7, Vale of Catmose College, Oakham
Tuesday, October 07, 2008

 

"The question says "word", not "words" therefore "thousand" must be the answer as "hundred and one" is three words."

Steve, Verdin High
Wednesday, October 08, 2008

 

"What about -(-1)
"Negative, negative one""

Mr Crawshaw, St George's College, Sleaford
Thursday, October 09, 2008

 

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