Math Stumpers

The student made a total of 7 time-shifts. When calculating the number of years that he traveled in each shift we must remember that there was no year "0." So to find the number of years between a BC and an AD date we can simply add the two numbers and then subtract 1 from the total:

1st shift = (1997 + 350 - 1) years = 2346 years

2nd shift = (350 + 1863 - 1) years = 2212 years

3rd shift = (1863 + 3500 - 1) years = 5362 years

4th shift = (3500 + 1997 - 1) years = 5496 years

5th shift = (1997 + 1340 - 1) years = 3336 years

6th shift = (1340 + 1192 - 1) years = 2531 years

7th shift = (1997 - 1192) years = 805 years

Total = 22,088 years

So the time traveler traveled a total of 22,088 years in his 7 time-shifts. Thus the total uranium used is (7 time-shifts x 6 grams per shift) + (22,088 years x 2.5 grams per year) = 55,262 grams of uranium.

Back to Time Machine.

If you have questions/comments, please send e-mail to mathhelp@saxonpublishers.com.

[ Return to Saxon Math Stumpers Area ]