Thought for the Day

"There is a great danger in the present day lest science-teaching [and mathematics education] should degenerate into the accumulation of disconnected facts and unexplained formulae, which burden the memory without cultivating the understanding."

--J. D. Everett [In the preface to his 1873 English translation of Elementary Treatise on Natural Philosophy by A Privat Deschanel. (D. Appleton and Co.)]

Pop Quiz: Petals Around the Rose

Thanks to Chicky for this fun logic game called "Petals Around the Rose."

http://crux.baker.edu/cdavis09/roses.html

The computer will generate a random roll for 5 dice. See if you can figure out how many petals there are around the rose for that particular roll. Enter your answer and check with the computer. You may repeat the simulation as many times as you wish.

What is the logic behind the question? Can you accurately answer how many petals are around the rose in any given roll?

If this was too easy for you, answer the following questions:

• What is the greatest number of petals around the rose for this game.
• Which dice will be displayed when there are 11 petals around the rose?
• Can the game be played with only 2 dice? If so, what is the greatest number of petals around the rose.
• Can the game be played with 6 dice? If so, what is the greatest number of petals around the rose.