Aisyah, Benjamin and Chloe each have a different 3-digit number of stickers. Altogether, they have 837 stickers. What is the greatest possible number of stickers that the child with the fewest stickers could have?
Need a hint?
Place the total as three different numbers that are as close as possible, then check that a larger smallest number is impossible.
Worked answer
- To make the smallest number as large as possible, make the three different numbers as close as possible.
- 837 ÷ 3 = 279, and 278 + 279 + 280 = 837.
- If the smallest were 279, the least possible total would be 279 + 280 + 281 = 840.
- Therefore, the greatest possible smallest number is 278.
Answer: 278 stickers
The mistake this question tests
Habit
Average and total
A pupil may divide 837 by 3 and answer 279, forgetting that the three numbers must be different. The closest valid set is 278, 279 and 280.
How to fix it at home →More PSLE whole numbers questions
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See the answer →Practise PSLE whole numbers until the mistakes stop.
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