5th Grade Story Problem

[joshsmom]

Ok, guys, I'm COMPLETELY brain dead tonight. I have a horrible headache to accompany my sinus infection and my math skills shut down 4 hours ago. Here's the problem:

Clous T. Cow teaches tapdancing to dogs and ducks. He has the same number of each in his class. If he ordered 45 pairs of tap shoes, how many dogs and how many ducks are in his tap dance class?

I know that the dogs have 4 feet (thus 2 pairs of shoes per dog). Beyond that, I'm lost. Please help me (and don't think I'm a total idiot).

 

[donnajon]

15 of each. 15 pair of shoes for the ducks and 30 pairs of shoes for the dogs because they have 4 feet instead of 2. That equals 45 pairs of shoes. Right?

 

[mommasita]

15 of each. 15 pair of shoes for the ducks and 30 pairs of shoes for the dogs because they have 4 feet instead of 2. That equals 45 pairs of shoes. Right?

sounds good to me.

 

[wdwprincess03]

I would also say 15!

 

[joshsmom]

Ok, THAT sounds right. We're going with that. Why the HECK was this such a CHALLENGE for me????? I truly am out of it. You guys are awesome!!!!

 

[beagle744]

I still can't get past how a cow is qualified to a teach tapdancing to a duck.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

And how does a duck get tap shoes on its webbed feet?

 

[Anne MN]

why did the mouse cross the road?

cause i tied him to the chicken

 

[hiwaygal]

my dogs seriously need some culture...can I enroll them in tapdancing class?

I'll buy the shoes...

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Even though I think our dog is more country and the cat is more Jazz.

The answer is 15 X is pairs of shoes the 2X is the dogs as they require it and so on just incase you have to show work.

2X+X=45
3X=45
X=15

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

15 is the answer - as reported above.

Another way to think of it - there are a TOTAL of 3 pairs of feet. The dog would get 2/3 of the shoes and the duck would get 1/3 of all the shoes.

 

[laurie31]

I can't get past the visual of the barnyard tapdancing...

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I don't even know how to tap dance, but there are 15 ducks, 15 dogs, and one cow who do? I must be slacking in the performing arts area.

Hey... you think I could hire a couple of them to come clean my house?

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I don't even know how to tap dance, but there are 15 ducks, 15 dogs, and one cow who do? I must be slacking in the performing arts area.

Hey... you think I could hire a couple of them to come clean my house?

If you put mops on the ducks ,wet towels on the front paws of the dogs and dry ones on the back paws. Then get the dogs to chase the ducks you would be in heaven with those clean floors

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

If you put mops on the ducks ,wet towels on the front paws of the dogs and dry ones on the back paws. Then get the dogs to chase the ducks you would be in heaven with those clean floors

I should probably keep the cow out of there.... they're messy creatures.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I always wondered how people come up with these bizarre questions.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I think its a trick question. I can't say I ever remember seeing Donald or Daffy in shoes. Only the girl ducks like Daisy. So how many of the ducks are girl ducks and how many are boys?