March 2019
Problem of the Month

Elephant Drinking Problem

"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.

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

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher