The Great Hamster Race

Kirby and Shelby each have a hamster. As part of a project they decided to have the hamsters race

through a 1.50 m maze. After the first minute Kirby's hamster was 35 cm from the starting point and

Shelby's hamster was 25 cm from the starting point. Because hamsters don't really understand racing,

after the second minute both hamsters were 30 cm from the starting point. At the end of three minutes

Kirby's hamster was 65 cm from the starting point and Shelby's hamster was 55 cm from the starting point.

At the end of four minutes both hamsters were 60 cm from the starting point. If the race kept going the

same way, who's hamster finally won the race and how many minutes did it take for the hamster to win?

What is the question we are asked?

Kirby and Shelby each have a hamster. As part of a project they decided to have the hamsters race through a 1.50 m

maze. After the first minute Kirby's hamster was 35 cm from the starting point and Shelby's hamster was 25 cm from the

starting point. Because hamsters don't really understand racing, after the second minute both hamsters were 30 cm from the starting point. At the end of three minutes Kirby's

hamster was 65 cm from the starting point and Shelby's hamster was 55 cm from the starting point. At the end of four minutes both hamsters were 60 cm from the starting point. If

the race kept going the same way, whose hamster finally won the race and how

many minutes did it take for the hamster to win?

What information do we have?

Kirby and Shelby each have a hamster. As part of a project they decided to have the hamsters race

through a 1.50 m maze. After the first minute Kirby's hamster was 35 cm from the starting point and

Shelby's hamster was 25 cm from the starting point. Because hamsters don't really understand racing,

after the second minute both hamsters were 30 cm from the starting point. At the end of three minutes Kirby's hamster was 65 cm from the starting point and Shelby's hamster was 55 cm from the starting

point. At the end of four minutes both hamsters were 60 cm from the starting point. If the race kept going the same way, who's hamster finally won the race

and how many minutes did it take for the hamster to win?

What information do we have?

• 2 hamsters• 1.5 m (150 cm) maze to race in• Hamster 1 is 35 cm, 30 cm, 65 cm, 60 cm

from start after each of the first 4 minutes• Hamster 2 is 25 cm, 30 cm, 55 cm, 60 cm

from start after each of the first 4 minutes• There is a pattern to find (If the race kept going the

same way . . .)

What information are we looking for?

•Where each hamster is after the next minute, and the one after that, and so on

•When each hamster passes the 150 cm (1.5 m) mark in the maze

•Which hamster crossed first• The number of minutes it took for

the winning hamster to get to the 150 cm mark for the first time.

start

finish

start

finish

Kirby’s Hamster Shelby’s Hamster

After 1 minute . . .

start

finish

start

finish

Kirby’s Hamster Shelby’s Hamster

After 2 minutes . . .

start

finish

start

finish

Kirby’s Hamster Shelby’s Hamster

After 3 minutes . . .

start

finish

start

finish

Kirby’s Hamster Shelby’s Hamster

After 4 minutes . . .

start

finish

start

finish

Kirby’s Hamste

r

Shelby’s Hamster

After 1 minute . . .

Make a chart of how far the hamsters go. The minutes are across the top and the two hamsters down the side.

1 2 3 4 Kirby’s 35

Shelby’s 25

start

finish

start

finish

Kirby’s Hamster

Shelby’s Hamste

r

After 2 minutes . . .

1 2 3 4 Kirby’s 35 30

Shelby’s 25 30

start

finish

start

finish

Kirby’s Hamster

Shelby’s Hamster

After 3 minutes . . .

1 2 3 4 Kirby’s 35 30 65

Shelby’s 25 30 55

start

finish

start

finish

Kirby’s Hamster

Shelby’s Hamster

After 4 minutes . . .

1 2 3 4 Kirby’s 35 30 65 60

Shelby’s 25 30 55 60

Look for a pattern to complete the chart

•You could go up by 30 every second minute

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kirby’s 35 30 65 60 90 120 150

Shelby’s 25 30 55 60 90 120 150

Look for a pattern to complete the chart

•You could go up by 30 every second minute•You could add 35 one minute and subtract 5 the next for Kirby’s hamster and 25 one minute and add five the next for Shelby’s•You could go 5 above the even minute for Kirby’s hamster and 5 below for Shelby’s hamster

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kirby’s 35 30 65 60 95 90 125 120 155 150

Shelby’s 25 30 55 60 85 90 115 120 145 150

Find the Answer to the Problem in the chart

•After 10 minutes both hamsters are at the finish line – 1.5 m from the start.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kirby’s 35 30 65 60 95 90 125 120 155 150

Shelby’s 25 30 55 60 85 90 115 120 145 150

Find the Answer to the Problem in the chart

•After 10 minutes both hamsters are at the finish line – 150 cm (1.5 m) from the start.•But after only 9 minutes, Kirby’s hamster was already past the finish line at 155 cm from the start.•Then Kirby’s hamster won, crossing the finish line after only 9 minutes.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kirby’s 35 30 65 60 95 90 125 120 155 150

Shelby’s 25 30 55 60 85 90 115 120 145 150