Dayyn Sisson Math, 2nd Period

Portfolio Writeup 1
August 28/29th, 2013

Portfolio Writeup: Sticky Gum Problem

# Question Why is three cents the most she might have to spend in order to satisfy her twins? What is the most Ms. Hernandez might have to spend at this new gumball machine in order to get matching gum balls for her twins? What is the most Mr. Hodges might have to spend? Dr. Mendoza has quintuplets and his wife and they all (6 of them) want the same color gumballs. There are black, gold, and white gumballs. What is the maximum number of pennies Dr. Mendoza needs to spend? Princess Abi has a son Joe. Both she and Joe want a gumball of the same color. There is a red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple gumball. How much does she need to spend max so they both get one gumball? Answer It will only take 3 because if you get a red, and a white gumball on the first two tries, the third one will have to be either red or white, and complete a pair. The minimum is two if she happens to get two of the same color. It will only take 4 max because if the first three are all different colors (red, white & blue), the 4th will have to match one of the three. It will take 7 tries max because if the first six make pairs of two each, the seventh will be the third gumball to complete one of the sets.

16 pennies, max, because if the quintuplets each get three gumballs (15 total), his wife only needs to get one of three to complete a set of six.

7 pennies max, because if Joe gets all six of the different colored gumballs, Princess Abi only needs to get one to complete a set.

Crimson The question I wrote myself

Dayyn Sisson Math, 2nd Period

Formula (Conjectures)
A = number of people b = number of options y = ((A 1) b) + 1 1.) Two twins, two gumballs Explanation I knew that it had to include the number of people and the number of options as the two variables from the outset. y = Ab I also knew that for the max possible, every person except one had to have all the gumballs. y = (A 1) b And then I knew that that extra person had to get at least one gumball to match one of the sets. Therefore the equation is: y = ((A 1) b) + 1 y = (2 1) 2) + 1 y = (1) 2) + 1 y = 2 + 1 y = 3 2.) Two twins, three gumballs y = (2 1) 3) + 1 y = (1) 3) + 1 y = 3 + 1 y = 4 3.) Three triplets, three gumballs y = (3 1) 3) + 1 y = (2) 3) + 1 y = 6 + 1 y = 7 I think this formula will work because Ive tested it out on the the 3 equations:

My Problems
Originally, I found that solving the problem with more (or equal) colors of gumballs to people was easier, so I tried to make an equation (with Dr. Mendoza) where there were more people than gumballs. It was while solving this equation that I came up with the solution, because I found that the last person only needs to have one gumball to complete a set, while the rest of the people needed to have one of each (if youre looking for the max).

Crimson The question I wrote myself