The Method of False Position

A SaveOnFoods supply manager counted a total of 32 apples in stock delivered from apple farmers based in Yakima, Washington.  They noted that they had received 1/7 of the order four days post the expected delivery date. What was the original quantity that was delivered? 

Solution: 

1) We need to find a convenient integer answer that has been obtained through multiplying it by 1/7. Therefore we can choose the number 7. 

2) (1 + 1/7) * 7 = 8 

3) Therefore 8 = 32 

4) The number 4 is used to multiple 8 giving us an answer of 32. 

5) Therefore we can use 4 to multiply by 7 to allow us to gain the answer of the unknown quantity. 

4 * 7 = 28  --> Therefore 28 is the quantity that was delivered 

6) Checking if this is the correct answer: 1/7 of 28 is 4: 

(1/7)*(28) = 4 --> 28 + 4 = 32 



Comments

  1. Susan GerofskyNovember 11, 2020 at 12:39 PM

    Good problem, although the wording was a bit confusing (I wasn't sure whether the 1/7 was included in the 32 apples, or separate from it). Good solution too, although your notation is NOT correct in a standard way! (For example, 8 is not equal to 32... but I do understand what you're doing here). I can see that you understand the method of false position, and that is the main point!

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