Answer to the Problem of the Week
for the week of September 26, 2005
from April 2005 Mathematics Teacher

The Barbie Problem

According to the Barbie web site, "this one doll is a $1.9 billion a year industry, with two Barbies being bought every second."

What is the average cost of one Barbie, given the information above?

 


Solution to the Problem:

The answer is $30.10.

There are 3,600 seconds x 24 hours x 365.25 days per year = 31,557,600 seconds in an average year.   If two Barbies are sold every second, then 63,115,200 Barbie dolls are sold annually.   This works out to an average cost of 1,900,000,000 / 63,115,200 = $30.10 each.


Correctly solved by:

1. Mike Singer Winchester, Virginia
2. Sagar Patel Columbus, Georgia
3. Walt Arrison Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4. John Funk Ventura, California
5. Jonas Arvidson Tullängsskolan, Örebro, Sweden
6. Rickard Jansson Tullängsskolan, Örebro, Sweden
7. Wictoria Widén Tullängsskolan, Örebro, Sweden
8. Slayton Gilmore Columbus, Georgia
9. Erin Fennacy Fresno, California
10. Tom Robb Winchester, Virginia
11. Tristan Collins Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia
12. Elizabeth Carlson Winchester, Virginia
13. Charles Washington Winchester, Virginia
14. Gusti Oggenfuss Centre de Rencontre
Montet (Broye), Switzerland
15. CJ Pearson Asheville, North Carolina
16. Jasmine Jones
      Tashema Brown
Asheville, North Carolina
17. Anil Nataraj Columbus, Georgia
18. Heather Brown Winchester, Virginia
19. Britney White Columbus, Georgia
20. Carter Galbraith Columbus, Georgia
21. Yani Stalev Winchester, Virginia
22. Russell Beaty Columbus, Georgia
23. Patrick Chu Harrisonburg, Virginia
24. Ashley Faucher Winchester, Virginia
25. Zaza Carlzon Tullangen, Örebro, Sweden
26. James Alarie University of Michigan -- Flint
Flint, Michigan
27. Sharina Smith Newport News, Virginia
28. John DeBergh Winchester, Virginia
29. Jo Monhollen Pasadena City College
Pasadena, California
30. Elizabeth Honeyman ----------
31. David & Judy Dixon Bennettsville, South Carolina
32. Patrick McDuffee Harrisonburg, Virginia
33. Keith Mealy Cincinnati, Ohio
34. Maggie Morrison Winchester, Virginia
35. Quentin Shank Harrisonburg, Virginia
36. B. Murphy ----------
37. Praveen Nandamuru Columbus, Georgia
38. Olivia Quach Harrisonburg, Virginia
39. Lane Newton Harrisonburg, Virginia
40. Charlie Cumiskey Columbus, Georgia
41. Avery Acuff Columbus, Georgia
42. Bobby Arthur Winchester, Virginia
43. William Nocella ---------
44. Julianne Harris Winchester, Virginia
45. Cerena Uttal Winchester, Virginia
46. Matt Arnsbrak Winchester, Virginia
47. Eric Harding Fort Collins, Colorado
48. Richard Johnson La Jolla, California
49. Malin Fredriksson Tullängsskolan, Örebro, Sweden
50. Rachel Pridgen Columbus, Georgia
51. Stephen O'Hara Winchester, Virginia
52. Jeff MacKenzie Winchester, Virginia
53. Andrew Barnes Winchester, Virginia
54. Caitlin Bitto Winchester, Virginia
55. Ashley Hudson Harrisonburg, Virginia
56. Henry Tran Harrisonburg Virginia
57. Joakim Olsson Tullängsskolan, Örebro, Sweden
58. Krille Jansson Tullängsskolan, Örebro, Sweden
59. Danny Gordon Columbus, Georgia
60. Mattias Tyresgård ----------
61. Erika Skoglund Tullängen, Örebro, Sweden
62. Jeffrey Gaither University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
63. Chris Jansson Tullängskolan, Örebro, Sweden
64. Rohit Beheraj Harrisonburg Virginia