August 2009
Problem of the Month

Belly Dancer Problem

If 7 belly dancers altogether lose 20 pounds in 8 hours dancing, how many more belly dancers would be needed to lose a total of 20 pounds in only 4 hours dancing, providing the new dancers shed weight only half as fast as the original 7?

Solution to the Problem:

The answer is 14 more belly dancers.

Since the original 7 dancers can lose 20 pounds in 8 hours, those same 7 dancers can lose 10 pounds in 4 hours.

That means that the additional dancers must lose 10 pounds in 4 hours.

Seven new dancers can lose 5 pounds in 4 hours (since they lose weight only half as fast as the original 7).

Therefore, you need 14 new dancers to lose 10 pounds in 4 hours.

Correctly solved by:

1. John C. Funk	Ventura, California
2. Tom Marino	Winchester, Virginia
3. Tom Robb	Winchester, Virginia
4. James Alarie	Flint, Michigan
5. David & Judy Dixon	Bennettsville, South Carolina
6. Les Walker	Ventura, California
7. Jason LaRusso	Winchester, Virginia

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher