Time for MATH MINUTE! (provide your favorite theme music here).

Get out your paper & pencil because I have a new puzzle for you!!

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PUZZLE #14(rev.) A sneaky way to compute squares Dec.18 - 22

Tom and Sarah were looking at a For Sale sign in the store window which said: < floor material $.99 a square foot >.

Darn he said, I need enough for a 16x16 square foot room but the store is closed, I forgot my calculator, and I do not remember what 16² is. I could just estimate it at $1 a square foot if I did. Oh well.

Easy!, said Sarah, do you know what 15² is?

Yes, he said, I think 225?

So just add 31, she said.

Is she right?

If so, how did she do it?

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       Send your comments, ideas and solutions before Monday Dec. 18 to this

email address, parksjm@potsdam.edu ,

and in the subject line be sure to put:  * MM * .

Visit us here online at 

http://www2.potsdam.edu/parksjm/MM.htm

to see the results every Monday.

       See you next time on MATH MINUTE!  (theme music fades out here).