When Mr. Lowe returned from his fishing trip,
his students inquired as to the length of his
prize catch.
Mr. Lowe answered,
"The head measured 9 inches."
"The tail was as long as the head and half the
body."
"The body was as long as the head and tail."
How long was Mr. Lowe's prize fish?
Solution:
1. Let H, B, and T be three variables representing
the Head, Body, and Tail of the fish.
2. H = 9".
3. T = H + 1/2 B
4. B = H + T
5. So, B = 9 + 9 + 1/2 B, by substitution.
6. Therefore, B = 36".
7. So, T = 9 + 18 = 27".
8. The Fish = H + B + T or 72" in length.
Correctly solved by:
| 1. Elizabeth Pleacher Cotter | Centreville, VA |
| 2. Paul Carpenter | Winchester, VA |
| 3. Marga White | Winchester, VA |
| 4. Ginger Anderson | Winchester, VA |
| 5. Michael Leatherman | Norfolk, VA |
| 6. James E. Puckett II | Norfolk, VA |
| 7. Trey Genda | Winchester, VA |
| 8. John Beavers | Winchester, VA |
| 9. Chad McDaniel | Winchester, VA |