The Parking Meter Question
You are about to see a question, a flexible mathematical model, a solution pathway, and an answer.
My question to you: Do you agree with the answer that I provide in the video?
In one week, I will post an animated model which will either prove or disprove the answer suggested in the video.
To provide additional thinking space I’ve made a PDF which you can download here. Good luck, and enjoy!
NEW UPDATE: THE SOLUTION TO THIS QUESTION IS NOW AVAILABLE HERE!!!
Click here to see the solution.
If you are interested in more animated math posts, you may want to view:
8 Animated Dots and 1 Powerful Question
If you are looking for classroom resources or instructional strategies, you may be interested in
You can also find a highly engaging vocabulary strategy here.
For reflective posts, please take a look at I am on a Learning Mission and Finding Bedrock.
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Thank you so much, this is an awesome problem! I do have one question. Have you asked your students to consider what happens if you arrive at the parking lot at 7:30 AM?
I will use this next week at a training, thanks again!
I believe you are correct! My explanation: The question doesn’t specify that the random hour starts only at the beginning of any hour of the day. So for example, if the random hour were from 9:30PM to 10:30PM on Tuesday, you’d have to pay – even though the 10:00PM to 10:30PM block is in the green. Depending on the payment options, you might pay for one-half hour or maybe one hour; but, again, the question doesn’t say how much you pay – only that you pay! So instead of 14×6(=84) hours one pays and (24×7=168) – (14×6=84) = 84 hours one doesn’t pay, it’s ((84+2x6x(59/60)=95.8) hours pay for parking and (168-95.8=72.2) hours don’t pay. That’s IF the smallest interval of time is one minute!!!