Brain Teasers
Mother May I
Fun: (2.18)
Difficulty: (1.81)
Puzzle ID: #17460
Submitted By: basketbalfreak4 Corrected By: boodler
Submitted By: basketbalfreak4 Corrected By: boodler
Lizzie is babysitting her little sister Mary, and Mary's friends Terri, Sherri, and Kerry. They are playing Mother May I. In this game every player asks, "Mother may I take (1,2,3, or 4) of (some type of) step forward. The leader, Lizzie, says, "Yes, you may" or "No, you may not."
If the leader answers "no" the player stays in the same place. If the player forgets to say "Mother May I," she has to go back the number of steps she asked for. There are baby steps, hops, or giant steps. A baby step is 6 inches, a hop is 12 inches, and a giant step is 24 inches.
In the lines below, * indicates those turns in which the leader said "no" and ** indicates those turns in which the player forgot to say, "Mother May I."
After six turns:
Mary has asked for 3 baby steps, 2* hops, 1 giant step, 1 baby step, 4 hops, and 1** giant step.
Terri has asked for 2 baby steps, 1** hop, 1 giant step, 1* baby step, 4 baby steps, and 2 hops.
Sheri has asked for 3 hops, 1 giant step, 1* baby step, 4* hops, 1 baby step, and 2 hops.
Kerry has asked for 3** hops, 4 hops, 1 giant step, 1* baby step, 4 hops, and 1 giant step.
Who is the closest to the finish line?
If the leader answers "no" the player stays in the same place. If the player forgets to say "Mother May I," she has to go back the number of steps she asked for. There are baby steps, hops, or giant steps. A baby step is 6 inches, a hop is 12 inches, and a giant step is 24 inches.
In the lines below, * indicates those turns in which the leader said "no" and ** indicates those turns in which the player forgot to say, "Mother May I."
After six turns:
Mary has asked for 3 baby steps, 2* hops, 1 giant step, 1 baby step, 4 hops, and 1** giant step.
Terri has asked for 2 baby steps, 1** hop, 1 giant step, 1* baby step, 4 baby steps, and 2 hops.
Sheri has asked for 3 hops, 1 giant step, 1* baby step, 4* hops, 1 baby step, and 2 hops.
Kerry has asked for 3** hops, 4 hops, 1 giant step, 1* baby step, 4 hops, and 1 giant step.
Who is the closest to the finish line?
Hint
Make a number line.Answer
Kerry is closest to the finish line.Steps converted into feet:
Mary has gone +1 1/2+0+2+1/2+4-2 = +6 feet;
Terri has gone +1-1+2+0+2+2 = +6 feet;
Sherri has gone +3+2+0+0+1/2+2 = +7 1/2 feet;
Kerry has gone -3+4+2+0+4+2 = +9 feet.
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