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Coffee

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
  • Problem
  • Student Solutions

Many students used trial and improvement techniques to show that to blend the coffee then 4kg of Mocha, 2 kg of Kenyan and 5 kg of Brazilian are needed if the conditions are to be satisfied. These included students from Maidstone Girls Grammar School; West Flegg Middle School; Madras College; Strabane Grammar School; Trinity Academy, Edinburgh; Our Lady's Grammar School, Newry; Clevedon Community School, Somerset and ACS Barker, Singapore.

Joshua of Russell Lower Scholl, Ampthill, Bedfordshire arrived at his solution which his father called trial and error techniques. There is an easier and quicker way submitted by Lyndsay of Mount school, York, which is represented below:

M + K + B = 11 (11 kg in all)
13M + 14K + 17B = 165 (cost is £165)
so 13 ( 11 - K - B) + 14K + 17B = 165
143 - 13K - 13B + 14K + 17B = 165
K + 4B = 22

Since B > K, the only whole numbers that fit are B = 5 and K = 2
So the answer is 5 kg Brazilian, 2 kg Kenyan and 4 Kg Mocha.


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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

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