Monkey Problem
 

A rope over the top of a fence has the same length on each side and weighs one-third of a pound per foot. On one end of the rope hangs a monkey holding a banana, and on the other end a weight equal to the weight of the monkey. The banana weighs 2 ounces per inch. The length of the rope in feet is the same as the age of the monkey, and the weight of the monkey in ounces is as much as the age of the monkey's mother. The combined ages of the monkey and its mother is 30 years. One-half the weight of the monkey plus the weight of the banana is one-fourth the sum of the weights of the rope and the weight. The monkey's mother is one-half as old as the monkey will be when it is three times as old as its mother was when she was one-half as old as the monkey will be when it is as old as its mother will be when she is four times as old as the monkey was when it was twice as old as its mother was when she was one-third as old as the monkey was when it was as old as its mother was when she was three times as old as the monkey was when it was one-fourth as old as its is now. How long is the banana?

I choose "C."

None of the above.

21

More monkey, more problems.

5.75 inches.

-Rudey

Rudey, we were talking about the Banana, not your manhood.

Long enough to do the job.

R.W = weight of the rope (ounces by default)
R.L = length of the rope (inches by default)
M.W = weight of the monkey (ounces by default)
M.A = age of the monkey (years by default)
B.W = weight of the banana (ounces by default)
B.L = length of the banana (inches by default)
O.A = age of the monkey's mother (years by default)

R.W = 1/3lb/ft * R.L * 16 ounces/1lb * 1ft/12inches
R.W = 4ounces/9inches * R.L
B.W = 2ounces/inch * B.L
R.L = M.A * feet/year
M.W = O.A * ounce/year
M.A + O.A = 30 years
1/2M.W + B.W = 1/4(R.w + M.W) //the weight weighs as much as the monkey (no extra variable because we don't see this again)
1/2M.W + B.W = 1/4R.W + 1/4M.W
B.W = 1/4R.W - 1/4M.W
M.W = (30 years - M.A ) * ounce/year
O.A = 1/2(3(1/2(4(2(1/3(3(1/4(M.A))))))))
O.A = 3/2M.A
M.A + 3/2M.A = 30 years
5/2 M.A = 30 years
M.A = 12 years

B.L = ???
B.L = B.W * 1inch/2ounces
B.W = 1/4R.W - 1/4M.W
R.W = 4ounces/9inches * R.L
M.W = (30 years - M.A ) * ounce/year
O.A = 3/2M.A
M.A + 3/2M.A = 30 years
5/2 M.A = 30 years
M.A = 12 years
M.W = (30 years - 12 years ) * ounce/year
M.W = 18 ounces
R.L = 12 years * feet/year * 12inches/foot
R.L = 144 inches
R.W = 4ounces/9inches * 144 inches
R.W = 64 ounces
B.W = 1/4(64 ounces) - 1/4(18 ounces)
B.W = 16 ounces - 9/2 ounces
B.W = 23/2 ounces
B.L = 23/2 ounces * 1inch/2ounces
B.L = 23/4 inch

The rope weighs 4 lbs and is 12 feet long.
The monkey weighs 18 ounces and is 12 years old.
The monkey's mother is 18 years old.
The banana weighs 11.5 ounces and is 5.75 inches long.

If someone really has to write all that out...geez.

-Rudey
--And ilovemyglo if we were talking about my wang, it would be a solid 2...feet...around.

I was going through the CD of student assignments that we created in one of my teacher ed classes last summer- and that was a problem one of the future math teachers was giving his students and it said to write out all the work.

Mine was considerably less confusing- but it was based on the presidency of FDR, so yeah.

It was a gentle tease- I couldnt help it- you left that out there!