Solution

32614

First name
Jake
School
Colyton Grammar School
Country
Age
12

The first thing to do in this problem is to look to see if any two windows have the same amount of either frame or glass, but a different amount of the other thing. J and H each have the same length of frame, but J has one square of glass more. J costs ten more pounds than H so that means that a pane of glass = £10. J has four panes of glass and costs £200. Since it is already known that a pane of glass = £10, if £40 (the cost of four panes of glass) is taken away from 200, that means that the cost of the window frame is £160. There are 8 square lengths of window frame in J, and £160 divided by 8 is £20, so a square of window frame is £20. From this a formula can be made. The cost of the window is £10 times the amount of glass panes + £20 times the amount of window frame squares, or w = 20f + 10g, where w is the total, g the amount of glass panes and f the amount of frame squares. Now there is a formula, it needs to be tested to see if it is right. Choose a random window, e.g. B, and see if the measurements fit the formula. B has sixteen frame squares and 15 glass panes. 16 x 20 = 320, and 15 x 10 = 150. 150 + 320 equals £470, which is the right price. Remember though, a formula needs to be tested more than once to see if it is right. Choose another window, for example H, and put the measurements into the formula. £160 + £30 = £190, which is the marked price. After trial and error, using the formula, you will soon find out that the incorrect window is E. E has 18 frame squares and 12 glass panes, so it should be 360 + 120, which equals £480. The price marked is £550, so window E is wrong.