Working Backwards 1 Some problems are difficult to solve if we try to use any other methods. But ifthe problem is worked backwards, it makes the problem-solving systematic and easy Three characteristics of this type of problems are (1) we start with something we do not know, (2) the end answer is given to us, ( 3) the problem will go through a series of operations. Students are encouraged to do it systematically by writing or drawing the original operations stated in the problem. By reversing the operations while working backwards, the answer will be obtained! 4 Work backwards by changing “+” to (a) Solution: (b) Solution: (c) Solution: as Olympiod Unleash The Maths Obepin In You Hegimer) 1B ‘©Singapore Asa Publishers ae Ld & Tey Chew Chapter 32 Lama tricky number. First, you add 5 to me, then multiply the sum by 5, subtract 5 from the product and divide the difference by 5. The result will be 5. What number am I? We write out the problem as shown below 5 5 x5 -5 5 We work backwards by changing the signs accordingly 3 5 5 [> 5 : 1 6 30 25 x5 Tam number 1 5 3 There were 70 books on the first and second shelves of a bookcase. 28 books from the second shelf were sold, 15 books from the first shelf were moved to the second shelf. The two shelves then had the same number of books. How many books were there on each shelf at first? jon: 70 ~28 = 42 There were 42 books left. 42 =21 There were 21 books on each shelf in the end. 15 I* shelf 28 5 2" shelf 21 Numerically, 15 I* shelf, 36 36 21 +28 15 2 shelf 34 6 2 : There were 36 books on the first shelf and 34 books on ' the second shelf at first Mas Obmpind Unleash The Mats Olypian You! Bepiaee) 19 ' ‘© Singapore Asa Publisher Pu Lid & Tey Chew Chapter 34 Alan, Benny and Charles had a total of $750 at first. Alan gave $30 to Benny. Benny ‘ gave $50 to Charles. Each of them then had the same amount of money. How much money did each boy have at first? s a: $750 + 3 = $250 I Each boy had $250 in the end. 30 Alan 250 +30 50 : Benny 250 +50 ms Charles 250 Numerically +30 Alan 280 250 250 30 F +50 Benn 270 300 250 50 Charles 200 200 250 Alan had $280, Benny had $270 and Charles had $200 at first. 5 Sabrina went up 5 floors to her grandmother’s house to collect a prune cake. She went down 8 floors to pass the prune cake to her cousin. She then went up another 2 floors to look for a friend who stayed on the 10" floor to do homework together. On what floor was Sabrina staying? Sabrina +5 8 2) ? floor 10" floor 5) 8 2 11" floor 16 8 10" floor Sabrina was staying on the 11" floor. Qe “Math Olympiad Unleash The Mas Olympian n You! (Bepinee) 20 ‘©Singapre Asia Pulser Pre Lid & Ter Chew Chapter 36 During a shopping trip, Cindy spent half of her money in the first shop. She spent $2 more than half of her remaining money in the second shop. She was left with $30 in the end. How much money did Cindy have at first? spent in the spent in the first shop __second shop left $2] $30 From the above drawing, 4 of Cindy’s money — $30 + $2 = $32 $32 x 4=$128 Cindy had $128 at first. a ‘Math Obmpiad—Unlesh The Mats Obmpi n You! Begins) 24 [Singapore Asis Pulser Pi ad & Terry Chew Chapter 3PRACTICE ~~ we 1 Work backwards by changing “+” to “", “" to “#", <" to “+” and finally “+” to “x” Ay Gop hog x2. 60 Solution 3 an ee -~ 60 & C?) 23 =4, #4, 4 Solution 23 4 x4 og © ©? *?, 2. 6 Solution Baad ae ts 2 Anumberis added to 6. The sum is then multiplied by 6. 6 is again subtracted from [ia the product. When the difference is divided by 6, the result is still 6. What is this number’ Math Oympind- aleush The Maths Olympia Io You! Bepiner) 2D. ‘Singapore Asa Polen Pe Lid & Tey Chew Chapier 33 Anumberis added to 3. The sum is then multiplied by 5. When 8 is subtracted from the product, the result is 12. What is this number? 4 On Monday, half of the total number of books were loaned out. Another 87 books were loaned out the next day. There were only 43 books left in the library. How many books were there in the library at first? A white rabbit managed to gather some mushrooms. It gave 6 mushrooms to its best friend, Brownie, before it gathered 10 more mushrooms. The white rabbit had 19 mushroons left after another friend, Spot, borrowed 5 mushrooms from him. How many mushrooms did the white rabbit gather at first? Mats Olympiad - Unleash The Nats Olypian a You! Begins) 23 ‘Singapore Asa Pulser le id & Terry Chew Chapter 36 There were 36 cars in car park A and car park B altogether. 4 cars drove out of car park A. 5 cars drove from car park B to car park A. The number of cars in car park A was 3 times that in car park B, How many cars were there in car park A and car park B at first? 7 16 sparrows were resting on two trees. 2 sparrows flew away from the second tree, 5 sparrows flew from the first tree to the second tree. The two trees now had the same number of sparrows. How many sparrows were there on the first tree and how many sparrows were there on the second tree at first? 8 Cindy and Elaine had $60 altogether. If Cindy gave Elaine $12 and Elaine gave Cindy $10, Cindy would have three times as much money as Elaine. How much money did each of them have at first? ———eEEEEEEEE—E Nats Olympiod~Usleasb The Mas Olypian te You! Beemer) 24 {©Singapore Aa Pablihers he Lid Tony Chow Chapter 3ar 9 There were 90 marbles in two boxes. 15 marbles were transferred from Box A to k Box B. 18 marbles from Box B were then transferred back to Box A. The number ir of marbles in Box A was twice the number of marbles in Box B. How many marbles were in each box at first? 10. 16 flying foxes were resting on two branches of a tree. 2 flying foxes from each branch were frightened by visitors and flew away. Another 6 flying foxes flew from ; the first branch to the second branch. After 4 flying foxes flew back to the first branch : from the second branch, the number of flying foxes on the first branch was twice the number of flying foxes on the second branch. How many flying foxes were on each branch at first? 11 Abus with some commuters left the bus terminal. At the first bus stop, 4 commuters boarded and 6 commuters alighted. The number of commuters doubled at the second bus stop. At the third bus stop, 3 commuters alighted and there were 15 commuters on the bus. How many commuters were on the bus when it left the bus terminal? Mats Olympiad Unleash The Mais Olypian fn You Bepine) 25 ‘Singapore Asia Publishers Pi Lid & Tey Chew Chapter 312 Debra went up 4 floors from her apartment to collect a birthday cake from her auntie, She walked down 3 floors to pass the cake to her friend. She then walked down another 3 floors to her uncle’s house which was on the 6" floor. On which floor was Debra staying? 13. Cindy asked her grandfather about his age Her grandfather replied, “You add 10 to my age, divide the sum by 4, subtract 15 from the quotient and multiply the difference by 10. You will get 100!” Can you help Cindy to find her grandfather’s age? 14 A rope was cut into half. Half of the rope was cut into half again. After four such cuts, the length of one such rope was 1 m, What was the original length of the rope? atts Ohmped-Uneuh The Maths Obmpian You ene) 26 ‘Singapore Asin Publis Pe Ld & Tery Chew Chapter 3ier 15 Anegg-seller sold 2 eggs more than half the number of eggs in his basket. He then ed sold 2 eggs fewer than half of the remaining eggs in his basket. If he was left with ch 28 eggs, how many eggs were in the basket at first? 16 Aminibus|efta condominium with a number of passengers. 7 passengers alighted and 10 passengers boarded the minibus at Evergreen Road. At Woodville Interchange, 4 1S Sa of the number of passengers alighted and 12 passengers were left in the minibus 7 How many passengers were on the minibus when it left the condominium? sh 17 A basket of apples were given to the pupils of Class 3C and Class 3D. 3 more than 4 half of the number of apples were given to the pupils of Class 3D. 2 more than the remaining half of the number of apples were given to Class 3C. There were 4 apples left in the basket. How many apples were there at first? Maths Olympia Unleash The Maths Oban in Yu! erie) 2 Singapore Asi Pubiters Pe La & Tey Chew Chapter 318 Alice used $4 to buy a comic book. She used half of the remaining money to buy a magazine. Lastly, she used $1 more than half of the remaining money to buy a pen, She was left with $5. How much money had Alice at first? > 19 Alex, Benny and Mike had $90 altogether. If Alex gave Benny $12, Benny gave Mike $13 and Mike gave Alex $5, the three boys would have the same amount of money in the end. How much money did each boy have at first? = = = . 20 Alicia, Betty and Chloe have 90 books altogether. If Betty borrows 3 books from Alicia and lends 5 books to Chloe, the three girls will have the same number of books in the end. How many books does each girl will have at first? Mats Obpid- Uses The Mas Oyapan nou (esaney 2B Sines Asia Poblers Pe i & Tey Chew Chapter 3