A Number

Starter of The Day Transum Mathematics Topics

Paul Boothroyd, Manor School and Sports College
Your answer for the smallest integer with the letter "a" in it is misleading or wrong.

One Hundred And One ...
8S3, Kettlethorpe High School
We also think that one hundred And one is smaller than one thousand
Bradley Clark, bradclark10@hotmail.com
We believe that one hundred and one is the smallest number with an a in it.
Mark, Manor School
I have always taught students that the and is only used for decimals. One hundred and one would be 100.1. 101 would be One hundred one. This would make 1000 the correct answer.
John and A2 maths, Milton Keynes
We think the answer is 8 because it has an "a" in it
Debs, Bognor Regis CC
My year 9 group also said "ate" (as did my teaching assistant.)As for One hundred AND one , the AND is a connective NOT a number. We had fun with this today and would like to see more literacy and maths starters especially since we have a lot of EAL students.
Mr. Mauceri, Aylesford School - Sports College, Kent, UK
If "and" is not allowed in one hundred "and" one then it should not be allowed in thous"and" either!
Mary, Qatar
How can you say the word thousand, without the "and" at the end, it doesn't make sense...... its part of the word, I think that both can be correct in this instance, using and is perfectly acceptable, its used world wide
Kirsty, 8B1
Kirsty says that it is a thousand because "and" isn't a number.
Paul Boothroyd, Whitehaven
Just returned to this problem, and noticed the "...a word...", I must have been persuaded by my class last year.
M. Flint and 7H, Hagley Park Sports College
We think it's 101 as 'and' is essential to the number when written down.
Mr Macarthur,
How about one and ten tenths?
Transum,
Here’s a variation on this theme:

Teacher: “I challenge you all to see who can come up with the most words that don’t contain the letters A, B or C in 30 seconds. Go!”

Students: “Sky… Pie … Moon … Lesson… etc” [They will typically come up with around 10 words in the 30 seconds]

Teacher: “Now it’s my turn. Go! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen etc” [It will be very easy for the Teacher to beat the students]
Mr Bannister, Garforth Community College
How about two halves ?
Jonathan Stevens, UNBSJ
101 Is "One Hundred One" There is no and... Common misconception... Therefore One Thousand is the correct answer.
Irene, Harrow, Beijing
A Hundred!
class 1P5, Holyrood Sec School Glasgow
We at Holyrood (mrs O'hagan's class),think this is a bit of a 'scam'..in otherwords a bit of a trick question! We like 'ate' but are divided between one thousand, and one hundred and one.
Craigdhu Primary, P6/7
We believe that one hundred and one is the correct answer since you asked for the word with 'a' in it.
11n5, Sleaford
We've actually spent more time discussing everyone's comments rather than the answer. It was jolly good fun!
Mr Smith + whole lot of clever students in set 5., Derby
It got my class thinking!
All was sure that it was: 'One hundred AND one'
Very good starters to get you thinking and debate about!
Year 7, Vale of Catmose College, Oakham
Four in French, Quatre
Steve, Verdin High
The question says "word", not "words" therefore "thousand" must be the answer as "hundred and one" is three words.
Mr Crawshaw, St George's College, Sleaford
What about -(-1)
"Negative, negative one"
Mr Mirza, Colne Park High School
Our answer was 'Thousand' as we felt one hundred and one connects one hundred with one which is not a value. We read 101 as one hundred one. Thanks
Mr Crawshaw, St George's College of Technology, Sleaford
A young Polish student came up with the answer "dwa", which is "two" in Polish.
This got me thinking about the cross-curricular possibilities for nthis starter.
In French, the answer is "quatre" (4), in German "acht" (8) and in Spanish "cuatro" (4).
Which languages give the smallest positive answer?
Bosnian and Croatian each have "jedan" for "one". In Czech, it's "jedna"
Slovenian (ena), Indonesian (satu), Portuguese (uma) and Basque (bat) also have words for "one" with an "a" in them.
Finnish (kaksi) and Swedish (twa) are like Polish, having an "a" in their word for "two".
English seems to be the only language I could find with no such number until "thousand". The next highest was Danish, which did not have a number with an "a" in it until "atten" (18)
I have more, but fear most lost interest long ago!!

St. Mary's Year 8, Cambridge
We think that it is One hundred And one. There were lots of posibilities like one thousAnd... we think And should be allowed because the number doesn't work without it!
Milo, BSM Muscat Oman
we think it is most definitely 8/'ate' and so did the rest of year 15
Class 6C, Tamworth
We think that a thousand is the most sensible answer.
Mr. Gauley, Gainesville Elementary School
One hundred and 0ne is not a correct statement. The "and" suggests a decimal point in the standard form of the number. At least that is what I have always taught my students.
Kristin Bare, Woodhill Elementary
And is not a number
the proper way to say 101 is "one hundred one"
the answer is a thousAnd.
Jordan Hollins, Uttoxeter
I think it is "A " because in algebra a stands for a number so A say it's A.
A Guess, A School
It can't be 101, because on google type in "101 in words" and it comes up with one hundred one, therefore its one thousand.
8MaP3, Park Community School
This has produced much discussion and has provided valuable literacy input.
Mr Walker, Baxter College
SquAre root of one?
Mr Ireland, 5I Maths, Balsall Common
We had a raging debate in our class about which one was correct - 101 or 1000. We'll need to put it to the vote tomorrow I think!
Miss Look, 5th Grade Math Class
We believe the answer is one thousand. It can't be one hundrend and one, because and is NOT a number.
Chris Poole, SLSSC, Exeter
Googling "hundred and one" gave me 3,260,000 hits. Googling "hundred one" gave 340,000 hits. Which may be why there's a book and film called "[The] Hundred AND one Dalmations".
You can argue the answer is 'thousand' because you asked for 'a word', not 'words', but it's a bit weird to say that AND isn't part of the number 'hundred and one'. It just is.
Mr Jones And 7V1, King Alfred's Wantage
We believe that it is 'One Thousand' as, although 'One Hundred and One' has an 'a' in it, the 'and' is not part of the number.
Also in French it would be 4, or quatre.
9g1, Priory School, Shrewsbury
We really don't think much of the question. We like more definite answers.
7Y2, St Edmund Arrowsmith (wigan)
Half of our class think it is 101 and the other half think its 1000.
Emily,
It is a thousAnd because one hundred and one is a decimal and and is not a number.
Brenda, California
You can't count one hundred and one, because in math "and" represents a decimal and that would not be a whole number.
Mr Besgrove, Little Ilford School
One hundred and one is the correct answer... Year 7 Little Ilford School, London.
1Q, Moffat Academy
We think 'quatre' is the answer!!
7T, Dover
We think that it is THOUSAND. All the class seem(!) to agree.
9A3, Honiton Devon
We think it has to be one thousand because 'and' is not a number.
Andrés, Colombia
Para mi que la respuseta es 4 (cuatro).
for me the answer is 4.
good by.
Teresa, Kentucky
It is one thousand because one hundred one does not have the word "and" in it. It is a math misconception to use the word "and".
Maria, Indiana
The number 101, correctly written is 'one hundred one'. there is not an 'and' so one thousand must be correct.
Andrea, Tokyo
In the UK, we generally say one hundred and one.

9ma3, Attleborough High School
We had a vote and decided it should be thousand because when you write one hundred and one in numbers you do not wrtite the and.
Jon Chamberlain, Sty Peter And St Pauls Primary School
Would you write the letter 'A' when you write a thousand in numbers then?!?
I would allow one hundred and 1 or a thousand I think! (Unless I tell my year 4 class that the word and doesn't count!).
7t3, MR. DRYDEN YEAR 7, HOMEWOOD
Cifra, zero in Italian
shunya, zero in Hindi
wahid , one for Arabic.
Mr Sowler, 11-16
101 is a whole number, it just happens to require a few words to say it. In the UK it is correct to say and write it as 'one hundred and one' and it would be incorrect to say or write it as 'one hundred one.' In the US it seems the opposite is true!
Miss Robson And Mr Field's Year 7 Class, The Hazeley Academy
We think that if "one hundred And one" is a correct answer, "A hundred" should also be correct, and smaller, therefore the correct answer.
Mr Shepherd, Chryston High School
We took a class vote and voted that one thousand should be the correct answer. One hundred and one was too much of a trick! ( even though Mr Shepherd thought it was one hundred and one!).
Charles Jennings, Year 5 International, SIS @ BDNC, Vietnam
We think it could be "A hundred."
This is smaller than one hundred and one.
9TK, Ramsden Hall School
It was tricky, but we say THOUSAND!!!
Team 24, Rio Real School, California
Team 24 voted that "and" is not a number so the answer is one thousand.
Y8 Reepham High,
edna is bulgarian for one.
Yr8, Quest Academy
We thought it might be one hundred and one but then we decided that because 'and' is a connector not a number is must be one thousand.
Diana Gillinder And Y6, Langton Green Y6
One Squared.
Davis, England
Did you know twenty-one thousand is the smallest number you can make using only three words.
Christopher Allan, Twitter @CDAXY
Hundred and one after which they all contain 'a' up to X (but what is X ?).
Transum,
206 is the smallest number that when written in words contains all five vowels exactly once:

TWO HUNDRED AND SIX
, J
Shunya? (zero in hindi) or 101.
CEDARS Short Stay School, Newcastle
We think the answer is One In Lithuanian (vienas).
Alex Bellos, The Guardian
The words ‘zero’ and ‘one’ share letters (‘e’ and ‘o’). The words ‘one’ and ‘two’ share a letter (‘o’), and the words ‘two’ and ‘three’ also share a letter (‘t’). How far do you have to count in English to find two consecutive numbers which don’t share a letter in common?
Peter McCabe, Dublin
Great topic to provoke a discussion. I work in an Irish-language school and one is 'aon'(pronounced ane as in plane).

How did you use this starter? Can you suggest how teachers could present or develop this resource? Do you have any comments? It is always useful to receive feedback and helps make this free resource even more useful for Maths teachers anywhere in the world.
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Answers

Idea for Teacher: Another way to present this idea is to challenge pupils to write down in one minute as many words as possible that do not contain the letter A . You can easily win this competition by writing down one, two, three, four etc which is much easier to do!

Christmas Present Ideas

It is often very difficult choosing Christmas presents for family and friends but so here are some seasonal, mathematics-related gifts chosen and recommended by Transum Mathematics.

Equate board game

Here's a great board game that will give any family with school-aged kids hours of worthwhile fun. Christmas is a time for board games but this one will still be useful at any time of year. Games can be adapted to suit many levels of Mathematical ability.

For Maths tutors working with just one or small groups of pupils this game has proved to be an excellent activity for a tutorial. Deciding on the best moves can spark pertinent discussions about mathematical concepts.

Equate looks a bit like Scrabble--for aspiring mathematicians, that is. Designed by a real mathematician, it works like this: You put down tiles on a board and make points by correctly completing simple equations. Your nine tiles include both numbers and mathematical symbols; you can add on to previous plays both vertically and horizontally. more... #ad

How Not To Be Wrong

The maths we learn in school can seem like an abstract set of rules, laid down by the ancients and not to be questioned. In fact, Jordan Ellenberg shows us, maths touches on everything we do, and a little mathematical knowledge reveals the hidden structures that lie beneath the world's messy and chaotic surface. In How Not to be Wrong, Ellenberg explores the mathematician's method of analyzing life, from the everyday to the cosmic, showing us which numbers to defend, which ones to ignore, and when to change the equation entirely. Along the way, he explains calculus in a single page, describes Gödel's theorem using only one-syllable words, and reveals how early you actually need to get to the airport.

What more could the inquisitive adult want for Christmas? This book makes a cosy, interesting read in front of the fire on those cold winter evenings. more... #ad

Graphic Display Calculator

This handheld device and companion software are designed to generate opportunities for classroom exploration and to promote greater understanding of core concepts in the mathematics and science classroom. TI-Nspire technology has been developed through sound classroom research which shows that "linked multiple representation are crucial in development of conceptual understanding and it is feasible only through use of a technology such as TI-Nspire, which provides simultaneous, dynamically linked representations of graphs, equations, data, and verbal explanations, such that a change in one representation is immediately reflected in the others.

For the young people in your life it is a great investment. Bought as a Christmas present but useful for many years to come as the young person turns into an A-level candidate then works their way through university. more... #ad

Apple iPad Pro

The analytics show that more and more people are accessing Transum Mathematics via an iPad as it is so portable and responsive. The iPad has so many other uses in addition to solving Transum's puzzles and challenges and it would make an excellent gift for anyone.

The redesigned Retina display is as stunning to look at as it is to touch. It all comes with iOS, the world's most advanced mobile operating system. iPad Pro. Everything you want modern computing to be. more... #ad

Before giving an iPad as a Christmas gift you could add a link to iPad Maths to the home screen.

Craig Barton's Tips for Teachers

Teaching is complex. But there are simple ideas we can enact to help our teaching be more effective. This book contains over 400 such ideas." more... #ad

"The ideas come from two sources. First, from the wonderful guests on his Tips for Teachers podcast - education heavyweights such as Dylan Wiliam, Daisy Christodoulou and Tom Sherrington, as well as talented teachers who are not household names but have so much wisdom to share. Then there's what he has learned from working with amazing teachers and students in hundreds of schools around the world.

The Story Of Maths [DVD]

The films in this ambitious series offer clear, accessible explanations of important mathematical ideas but are also packed with engaging anecdotes, fascinating biographical details, and pivotal episodes in the lives of the great mathematicians. Engaging, enlightening and entertaining, the series gives viewers new and often surprising insights into the central importance of mathematics, establishing this discipline to be one of humanity s greatest cultural achievements. This DVD contains all four programmes from the BBC series.

Marcus du Sautoy's wonderful programmes make a perfect Christmas gift more... #ad

Christmas Maths

This book provides a wealth of fun activities with a Christmas theme. Each photocopiable worksheet is matched to the Numeracy Strategy and compatible with the Scottish 5-14 Guidelines. This series is designed for busy teachers in the late Autumn term who are desperate for materials that are relevant and interesting and that can be completed with minimun supervision.

All the activities are suitable for use by class teachers, supply teachers, SEN teachers and classroom assistants and cover topics such as 'How many partridges did the true love give all together?' and 'Filling a sleigh with presents by rolling a dice!'. Children will have lots of fun working through the Christmas Maths themes but also gain valuable skills along the way.

A great source of ideas and another reasonably priced stocking filler. more... #ad

A Compendium Of Mathematical Methods

How many different methods do you know to solve simultaneous equations? To multiply decimals? To find the nth term of a sequence?

A Compendium of Mathematical Methods brings together over one hundred different approaches from classrooms all over the world, giving curious mathematicians the opportunity to explore fascinating methods that they've never before encountered.

If you teach mathematics to any age group in any country, you are guaranteed to learn lots of new things from this delightful book. It will deepen your subject knowledge and enhance your teaching, whatever your existing level of expertise. It will inspire you to explore new approaches with your pupils and provide valuable guidance on explanations and misconceptions. more... #ad

Math with Bad Drawings

I had been tutoring the wonderful Betsy for five years. When the day came for our last ever session together before the end of her Year 13, I received this beautiful book as a gift of appreciation.

This a very readable book by Ben Orlin. I'm really enjoying the humour in the writing and the drawings are great.

Ben Orlin answers maths' three big questions: Why do I need to learn this? When am I ever going to use it? Why is it so hard? The answers come in various forms-cartoons, drawings, jokes, and the stories and insights of an empathetic teacher who believes that mathematics should belong to everyone. more... #ad

Click the images above to see all the details of these gift ideas and to buy them online.

Maths T-Shirts

Maths T-Shirts on Amazon

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Educational Technology on Amazon


	Teacher, do your students have access to computers? Do they have iPads or Laptops in Lessons? Whether your students each have a TabletPC, a Surface or a Mac, this activity lends itself to eLearning (Engaged Learning).

Here a concise URL for a version of this page without the comments.

Transum.org/go/?Start=October7

Here is the URL which will take them to a related activity.

Transum.org/go/?to=Ever

Extension 1

What is the largest number that has only one syllable?

Extension 2

When written as a word or words, what is the smallest positive whole number containing all of the vowels?

Extension 3

When written as a word or words, what is the only prime number that does not contain the letter 'e'?

Extension 4

When written as a word or words, what is the largest positive whole number that does not contain the letter 'o'?

Extension 5

When written as a word or words, what is the largest positive whole number that does not contain the letter 'i'?

Extension 6

When written as a word or words, what is the smallest positive whole number that contains the letter 'b'?

The solutions to this and other Transum puzzles, exercises and activities are available here when you are signed in to your Transum subscription account. If you do not yet have an account and you are a teacher, tutor or parent you can apply for one here.

If you enjoyed this type of number puzzle you might like to look at the June 2016 Transum Newsletter which featured a similar challenge as the puzzle of the month.