A wedding for 400 guests will be served on Saturday night. The bride has 5 re-quests for setting the tables. Each request is a separate mathematical “issue”
that should be addressed. The requests are as follows:
1. Ten guests per table.
2. Two tablecloths per table: one long white cloth and one blue overlay cloth.
3. Alternating white and blue napkins; every other guest has a different-color napkin.
4. Each guest has 2 knives, 3 forks, and 4 spoons.
5. Each guest has a water goblet, a champagne glass, and a coffee cup and saucer.
These issues are simple and can be solved without the formal process of the four-step method. However, I encourage you to use the four-step method to learn the process because the applied math problems and real-life situations that you encounter will become more difficult as you progress through the text and, eventually, your careers. I have provided information on the following pages to assist you with solving these applied math problems. After you solve each aspect of the bride’s requests, you should answer the questions that follow.
REQUEST 1: Ten guests per table STEP 1: What is the issue?
The total number of tables needed for the wedding guests.
STEP 2: What information is given?
There are 400 guests. Each table will have 10 guests.
STEP 3: Which mathematical operation is used?
Division is used to determine the number of tables to serve 400 guests.
The divisor is __________. The dividend is __________.
The answer is _____________.
STEP 4: Does the answer make sense?
You have divided the divisor into the dividend. Justify your answer.
REQUEST 2: Two tablecloths per table—One long white cloth and one blue overlay cloth STEP 1: What is the issue?
The total number of long white and short blue tablecloths needed to set the tables and the total number of cloths to order.
STEP 2: What information is given?
The total number of tables was answered in Request 1.
Each table will have 2 tablecloths.
STEP 3: Which mathematical operation is used?
Addition or multiplication can be used.
STEP 4: Does the answer make sense?
Justify your answer.
REQUEST 3: Alternating white and blue napkins (every other guest has a different color) STEP 1: What is the issue?
The total number of white and blue napkins that are needed to set the tables. Napkins are delivered in packages of 25 each. How many packages of napkins should be ordered?
STEP 2: What information is given?
The total number of tables and the number of guests per table are given.
STEP 3: Which mathematical operation is used?
Division can be used to divide the total number of guests by 2, the number of napkin choices; or multiplication can be used to multiply the number of guests at each table who will use each color of napkin by the total number of tables. Use both operations to see if the answers are indeed the same.
Next, division is used to determine the number of packages of each color of napkins to order.
Which number is the divisor and which is the dividend?
Applied Math Problems with Simple Solutions: REVIEW PROBLEMS 19
STEP 4: Does the answer make sense?
Justify your answer.
REQUEST 4: Each cover has 2 knives, 3 forks, and 4 spoons STEP 1: What is the issue?
The total number of knives, forks, and spoons that are needed to set the tables. Silverware is wrapped 50 pieces per package. How many packages of each type of silverware are needed to set the tables?
STEP 2: What information is given?
The total number of guests is 400.
STEP 3: Which mathematical operation is used?
Multiplication is used to determine the total number of each piece of silverware needed. Division is used to determine the number of packages of silverware to use.
STEP 4: Does the answer make sense?
Justify your answer.
REQUEST 5: A water goblet, a champagne glass, and a coffee cup and saucer at each cover STEP 1: What is the issue?
Glasses and cups are washed and stored in plastic racks. The racks vary in size to properly hold each type of glass. There are 25 water goblets, 30 champagne glasses, and 20 coffee cups per rack.
(How many racks of water goblets, champagne glasses, and coffee cups are needed to serve 400 guests?)
STEP 2: What information is given?
Please fill this in.
STEP 3: Which mathematical operation is used?
This issue is similar to other requests.
STEP 4: Does the answer make sense?
Justify your answer.
Now that you’ve completed the four-step method for each of the 5 requests, you are able to answer the following questions:
1. How many tables are needed to serve the 400 guests? __________
2. How many long white tablecloths are needed? __________
3. How many short blue overlay cloths are needed? __________
4. What is the total number of tablecloths that need to be ordered? __________
5. How many white napkins are needed? __________
6. How many blue napkins are needed? __________
7. How many bundles of napkins should be ordered? __________
8. What is the total number of knives, forks, and spoons needed to set the tables? __________
9. How many bundles of knives, forks, and spoons are needed to set the tables? __________
10. How many racks of water goblets, champagne glasses, and coffee cups are needed
to set the tables? __________
Applied Math Problems with Simple Solutions: REVIEW PROBLEMS 21