April 2025
Problem of the Month

Jellybeans

Mr. P has eight bags of jellybeans.
When he opens the first seven bags, he finds a total of 108 jellybeans in these seven bags.

The eighth bag contains 10 fewer jellybeans than the average number of jellybeans in all eight bags.

How many jellybeans are in the 8th bag?

Solution to the Problem:

Here is the solution:

There are 4 jellybeans in the 8th bag.

If A represents the average number of jellybeans per bag, then the total number of jellybeans is 108 + (A - 10), which simplifies to 98 + A.

We can write the equation (1/8) (98 + A) = A, which is the mathematical formula for the average.

Solving 98 + A = 8A gives us A = 14.

Since the average for all eight bags is 14 jellybeans, the eighth bag contains 14 - 10 = 4 jellybeans.

Correctly solved by:

1. Kamal Lohia	Holy Angel School, Hisar, Haryana, India
2. Colin (Yowie) Bowey	Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
3. Davit Banana	Istanbul, Turkey
4. Jeanne Jacobs	Charles Wright Academy, Tacoma, Washington, USA
5. Mrs. Painter's 3rd block prob/stats class	Broome High School, Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA
6. Mrs. Painter's 4th block Honors Precalculus Class	Broome High School, Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA
7. Kelly Stubblefield	Mobile, Alabama, USA

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher