Searching for mean(ing)
Problem
Searching for Mean(ing) printable sheet
If you have not used the Cuisenaire Environment before, you might find it helpful to look at the instructions and video before trying this problem.
Imagine you have a large supply of 3kg and 8kg weights.
Can you see how the picture below can be used to explain why two 3kg weights and three 8kg weights have a mean weight of 6kg?
Can you find other combinations of 3kg and 8kg weights whose mean weight is a whole number of kg?
What's the smallest possible mean?
What's the largest?
Can you make all the whole numbers in between?
You may wish to use the interactive Cuisenaire environment below.
Now explore some different pairs of weights (for example 2kg and 7kg).
Which whole numbers is it possible to have as the mean weight?
What do you notice about your results?
Can you use what you notice to find the combination of 17kg and 57kg weights that have a mean weight of 44kg......of 52kg.......of 21kg.....?
Explain an efficient way of doing this.
Can you explain why your method works?
Click here for a poster of this problem.
Getting Started
Start with weights that differ by 2kg. What whole number averages can you make?
Then try weights that differ by 3kg, then by 4kg...
Student Solutions
Khue from British Vietnamese International School in Vietnam said:
An easier way of finding a mean weight for a combination of weights that is [the] numbers weights add up to a multiple of 5.
These diagrams illustrate Khue's reasoning:
or 
In fact, there are combinations of 3 kg and 8 kg weights which have means equal to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 kg. Click to see them all.
Mahdi from Mahatma Gandhi International School in India used algebra to extend the problem to other pairs of weights:
Teachers' Resources
Why do this problem?
Students are often asked to calculate the average (mean) of sets of whole numbers. But what happens when the numbers vary? This problem offers students a chance to consolidate their understanding of average as a central measure, representative of the set.
Possible approach
Introduce the problem by asking the students to imagine they have an infinite supply of 3kg and 8kg weights. Can they find a combination of these weights that has an average of 6kg?
Allow some time for students to work individually or in pairs and then collect solutions. Confirm that there are many correct possibilities but that you would like to focus on the one that involves the least number of weights.
At this point, you may wish to share the image in the problem and invite students to consider how the image can be used to explain why two 3kg weights and three 8kg weights have a mean weight of 6kg”‹.
"If you had other combinations of the 3kg and 8kg weights, what other whole number averages could you make?
What's the smallest? What's the largest?
Can you make all the whole number values in between?"
Students could use a spreadsheet to explore the different combinations, or use the Cuisenaire environment in the problem to create images like the example.
Allow some time for the students to work in pairs, and collect the results on the board for future reference.
Some students may wish to comment on patterns that they notice (e.g. for all possible whole number averages, the number of 3kg and 8kg weights adds up to 5).
"What if you have a different pair of weights? What averages can you now make?"
Encourage students to work in small groups and each choose a different pair of weights (perhaps suggesting that they restrict themselves to weights less than 15kg).
"Share your results with your group. What do you notice? Do your results have anything in common?"
Draw the groups together and share ideas and conjectures. (e.g. students may notice a connection between the number of weights used and the values of those weights)
"Could you make any predictions about what combinations you need to make all possible whole number averages for any pair of weights? Can you use what you notice to find, for example, the combination of 17kg and 57kg weights that have an average of 44kg......of 52kg.......of 21kg.....?"
Encourage students to test and explain their predictions.
Key questions
Possible support
Students could start by exploring pairs of weights that have a difference of 2kg, then 3kg, then 4kg, and so on, so that patterns emerge as they work systematically.
Possible extension