1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Mathematics

Problem of the Week

From Deb, for About.com

The highly prized skills that employers look for today are: problem solving, reasoning and decision making. Where can you find the foundation for becoming proficient at these skills? Mathematics! Mathematics will improve your problem solving, decision making and reasoning skills. So let's get started with this week's problem:

The Horse Problem!

A man buys a horse for 50 dollars. Decides he wants to sell his horse later and gets 60 dollars. He then decides to buy it back again and paid 70 dollars. However, he could no longer keep it and he sold it for 80 dollars.

Did he make money? lose money? or break even? Explain why.

I was watching a Marilyn Burns video titles 'About Teaching Mathematics'. In this video, this particular question was taken to the 'street'. There were as many answers as there are strategies to solve it! Why is this problem such a problem for so many?

Answer

Explore Mathematics

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Mathematics

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.