A Romantic Riddle
Read this riddle and see if you can work out how the trees must be planted.
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Problem
Image
I ask you, sir, to plant a grove
To show that I'm your lady love.
This grove, though small, must be composed
Of twenty-five trees in twelve straight rows.
In each row five trees you must place
Or you shall never see my face.
Student Solutions
Well done to Billie-Jo (Tattingstone School, UK), Rowena, Charlotte and Ross (Stockton) and Timothy, Vincent and Kenneth (Catholic High School, Singapore) for correct solutions.
Four particularly well-presented graphic solutions came from Chris, Michael and someone else from Crofton Junior School, and Daniel (Anglo-Chinese School, Singapore).
This one comes from Rayner (Tao Nan School, Singapore):
Image
$5 + 5 + 2 = 12$ rows
Teachers' Resources
Why do this problem?
This
activity is good for helping pupils to work and talk together.
It will encourage them to 'play' with $25$ objects and
give reasons for choices.
Possible approach
After saying the riddle orally, you may wish to
display it on a screen or have it written on a board so everyone
can see. Allow pupils to choose whatever resources they
think they'll need to try to find a solution and
encourage discussion.
Key questions
Tell me about your lines.
Possible extension
Children could find a variety of answers and create new
problems that are similar for others to do.
Possible support
Any help that will enable the pupil to talk openly would be
good.