Math Problems for Kids: Solving Sticker Distributions and Ratios

Mathematics can be both fun and challenging, especially when it involves practical problems like distributing stickers. Today, we'll walk through an interesting problem involving sticker distribution among friends and solve it using ratios. This article is designed to help children understand and practice solving problems based on ratios and proportions. Below are detailed steps to tackle such problems.

Understanding the Problem

Anthony and Benyamin shared some stickers in the ratio 3:1. Additionally, Anthony had 2:3 as many stickers as Charles, and Charles had 21 more stickers than Benyamin. The challenge is to find the total number of stickers they had altogether. Let's break down the problem step by step.

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's represent the number of stickers that Anthony, Benyamin, and Charles have using algebraic expressions:

Step 1: Anthony : Benyamin : Charles 3 : 1

This tells us that for every 3 stickers Anthony has, Benyamin has 1, and Charles has a certain number of stickers relative to those of Benyamin. We can represent the number of stickers that Anthony, Benyamin, and Charles have as follows:

Step 2: Anthony had 2:3 as many stickers as Charles. This can be written as:

Anthony / Charles 2/3

Substituting the expressions for Anthony and Charles:

3x / (3x * 3/2) 2/3

3 / (3 * 3/2) 2/3

3 / (9/2) 2/3

3 * 2/9 2/3

Step 3: Charles had 21 more stickers than Benyamin. This can be written as:

Charles Benyamin 21

Substituting the expressions for Charles and Benyamin:

3x * 3/2 x 21

9x / 2 x 21

9x - 2x 42

7x 42

Step 4: Solving for x:

x 6

Now, we can substitute x back into the expressions for each person's stickers:

Benyamin x 6

Anthony 3x 3 * 6 18

Charles 3x * 3/2 18 * 3/2 27

Step 5: Calculating the total number of stickers:

Total 18 6 27 51

Conclusion

The total number of stickers they had together is 51. This problem demonstrates the importance of setting up and solving equations to find unknowns in ratio problems. It also highlights the step-by-step approach necessary for successful problem-solving in mathematics.

Additional Practice

To further solidify your understanding of these concepts, try solving similar problems on your own. You can also find more practice problems in math books or online resources aimed at children looking to enhance their problem-solving skills in mathematics.