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Language, notation and formulas
Language, notation and formulas

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6.3 Solving the riddle of St Ives

Write out your own solution to the following problem.

Example 17: St Ives

As I was going to St Ives

I met a man with seven wives.

Each wife had seven sacks.

Each sack had seven cats.

Each cat had seven kits.

Kits, cats, sacks and wives

How many were going to St Ives?

(a) Write down the people I met.[2]
(b) Find the number of wives, sacks, cats and kits.[4]
(c) Show that the number of kits is 74.[4]
(d) What is the answer to the riddle?[2]

Now comment on the sample solution which follow as if you were the tutor. Finally, use the tutor's comments to assess your own solution and comments.

Sample Solution A to Example 17

Click on ‘Reveal answer’ to see the tutor's marking.

Answer

Tutor's comments on Sample Solution A