Sheet # 10/Critical Thinking/Melting Candles
Name: _____________________ Date_____________
Use drawings, words, or numbers to explain how you got your answer.
Jane lights 3 candles that she will burn for six hours each day. The 12-inch candles melt at the rate of 1 inch per hour. She re-lights and uses them until there is 1 inch remaining. She will start burning the candles on December 20th and light them for the last time on December 25th. How many candles will Jane need to purchase?
Answer for sheet # 10
Let us start with one candle
December 20:
Candle # 1. 6 inches of candle burns. 6 inches are remaining.
December 21.
Candle #1 burns 5 inches. 1 inch remaining. She replaces with a new candle, call it candle # 2. It burns 1 inch. 11 inches remaining.
December 22
Candle # 2 burns 6 inches. 5 inches remaining.
December 23
Candle # 2 burns 4 inches. She replaces with a new candle. Call it candle # 3. It burns for 2 inches. 10 inches remaining.
December 24.
Candle # 3 burns 6 inches. 4 inches remaining.
December 25.
Candle # 3 burns 3 inches. She replaces with a new candle. Call it candle # 4.
Since Jane is lights 3 candles at the same time, she will need 12 candles in all.