"Think! Think and wonder. Wonder and think. How much water can 55 elephants drink?"
— Dr. Seuss
In honor of Dr. Seuss who was born on March 2, 1904, our problem this month is to answer Dr. Seuss' question above.
Adult elephants can eat between 200-600 pounds of food a day. Elephants can also drink up to 50 gallons of water a day
(about as much as a standard bathtub holds).
So, how many gallons of water can 55 elephants drink in a year?
How many tons would that water weigh?
Solution to the Problem:
55 elephants can drink 1,003,750 gallons of water in a year which would weigh just over 4,185 tons.1 elephant can drink 50 gallons of water in a day so it can drink 18,250 gallons in 365 days.
55 elephants can drink 55 x 18250 = 1,003,750 gallons of water in a year.
Since 1 gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds, this would weigh 8,371,275 pounds.
Dividing by 2000, we obtain 4,185.6375 tons.
James Alarie sent in the following explanation ...
According to Google, a gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds.
50 gallons / (elephant * day) * 55 elephants = 2750 gallons / day.
For a standard year of 365 days:
2750 gallons / day * 365 days = 1,003,750 gallons
That would weigh:
1,003,750 gallons * (8.34 pounds / 1 gallon) * (1 ton / 2000 pounds)
4,185.6375 tons
For an average year of 365.25 days:
2750 gallons / day * 365.25 days = 1,004,437.5 gallons
That would weigh:
1,004,437.5 gallons * (8.34 pounds / 1 gallon) * (1 ton / 2000 pounds)
4,188.504375
for a banker's year of 360 days:
2750 gallons / day * 360 days = 990,000 gallons
That would weigh:
990,000 gallons * (8.34 pounds / 1 gallon) * (1 ton / 2000 pounds)
4,128.3 tons
Correctly solved by:
| 1. James Alarie | Flint, Michigan |
| 2. Rob Miles | Northbrook, Illinois |
| 3. Ivy Joseph | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| 4. Domanick Montoya |
Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming |
| 5. Trevor Whiteside |
Delta High School, Delta, Colorado |
| 6. Landon Watts |
Delta High School, Delta, Colorado |
| 7. Macy Rinker |
Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming |
| 8. Madison Johnson |
Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming |
| 9. Emma Wise |
Delta High School, Delta, Colorado |
| 9. Braeden Walk |
Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming |