Answer to Problem of the Month for February 2011

"Bucky the Badger had to do 83 pushups" -- sportscasters of several networks said after Wisconsin scored 83 points against Indiana on November 13, 2010. But the sportscasters had their math wrong -- Bucky actually did 573 pushups! The routine is the mascot does seven pushups when Wisconsin reaches seven points, 59 pushups when Wisconsin reaches 59 points and so on. Add 'em up.

At some colleges and high schools, the cheerleaders also do cumulative pushups representing the score. The male cheerleaders at West Lake High School in Austin, Texas did 115 pushups when they played Anderson High School last Fall.

How many points did the football team score? (There may be more than one correct answer).

Please send in the order in which they scored touchdowns or field goals.

Hints:

(1) There were no safeties in this game.

(2) Each time the West Lake Football Team scored a touchdown, the kicker made the extra point. (so the cheerleaders only did push ups after 7 points or 3 points).

(3) The order in which a team scores a touchdown and a field goal makes a difference in the number of push ups the cheerleaders have to do.

Solution to the Problem:

West Lake High School actually scored 30 points in the game against Anderson.
Here is a table showing their pushups:

FG or TD	Push Ups after Score	Total Pushups for the Game
7	7	7
3	10	17
7	17	34
7	24	58
3	27	85
3	30	115

John Funk and Steve Muller sent in a different solution so they get extra credit:
7 + 7 + 3 + 3 + 7 + 3 = 30 points and
7+14+17+20+27+30=115 push ups.

Austin Hale, Karly Horton, and David & Judy Dixon also sent in a different solution so they get extra credit:
3 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 3 + 7 = 34 points and
3+10+17+24+30+37=115 push ups.

Kalvin Hereford, Levi Harmon, and Hazen Dickerson also sent in a different solution so they get extra credit:
7 + 3 + 7 + 3 + 7 + 7 = 34 points and
7+10+17+20+27+34=115 push ups.

James Alarie really got industrious and sent in four solutions, so he gets extra credit and a gold star!
3 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 3 + 7 = 34 points and
3+10+17+24+30+37=115 push ups.
7 + 3 + 7 + 3 + 7 + 7 = 34 points and
7+10+17+20+27+34=115 push ups.
7 + 3 + 7 + 7 + 3 + 3 = 30 points and
7+10+17+24+27+30=115 push ups.
7 + 7 + 3 + 3 + 7 + 3 = 30 points and
7+14+17+20+27+30=115 push ups.

Correctly solved by:

1. James Alarie	Flint, Michigan
2. John Funk	Ventura, California
3. Austin Hale	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
4. Steven R. Muller	Clear Brook Territory, Virginia
5. Karly Horton	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
6. Kalvin Hereford	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
7. Levi Harmon	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
8. David & Judy Dixon	Bennettsville, South Carolina
9. Hazen Dickerson	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming

February 2011 Problem of the Month

Correctly solved by:

February 2011
Problem of the Month