1.
A tent floor covers 54 square metres. One side is 6 m. How long is the other side, and what is the perimeter?
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Answer:
Did you know? Everest grows a few millimetres taller every year, because India is still pushing north into Asia.
2.
77 climbers are waiting for a cable car that carries 8 people. How many trips are needed to get everyone up?
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Answer:
Did you know? Above about 8,000 m is the "death zone", where there is too little oxygen for a body to recover, even resting.
3.
One team has climbed 5/8 of the route. Another has climbed 2/3. Which team is further along?
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Answer:
Did you know? Mauna Kea in Hawaii is taller than Everest measured from its base — but most of it is under the sea.
4.
A team climbs 174 metres a day for 5 days, then descends 218 metres to a safer camp. What height have they gained overall?
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Answer:
Did you know? Air cools by about 6.5 °C for every 1,000 m you climb, which is why snow sits on peaks in hot countries.
5.
9 teams each carry 6 packs. 12 packs are left at base camp. The rest are shared equally between 6 mules. How many packs does each mule carry?
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Answer:
Did you know? Sherpa climbers' bodies use oxygen more efficiently at altitude — an adaptation built up over thousands of years.
1.
A supply run carries 38 boxes, each holding 47 ration packs. How many packs is that?
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Answer:
Did you know? K2 is lower than Everest but far deadlier — steeper, stormier, and with no easy route to the top.
2.
A rope is 5/6 of the way down a cliff. It is then pulled back up by 1/4 of the cliff's height. How far down is the rope now?
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Answer:
Did you know? Climbing ropes are built to stretch. A rope that could not stretch would jolt a falling climber hard enough to injure them.
3.
A 4,215 metre ascent is split equally across 7 days. How far each day, and what is left over?
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Answer:
Did you know? Altitude sickness can begin as low as 2,500 m, and the only reliable cure is to go back down.
4.
A climber carries 9.4 kg and drops 3.65 kg of gear at a camp. What is the new pack weight?
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Answer:
Did you know? Every kilogram carried above 7,000 m costs roughly twice the effort it would at sea level.
5.
A group climbs at 320 metres per hour for 7 hours, then descends 465 metres to camp. What is their height gain for the day?
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Answer:
Did you know? Climbers often "climb high, sleep low" on purpose — going up to work the body, coming down to recover.
3rd Grade
1. Other side 9 m; perimeter 30 m.
54 ÷ 6 = 9 m. Perimeter = 6 + 9 + 6 + 9 = 30 m.
2. 10 trips.
77 ÷ 8 = 9 remainder 5. The last 5 climbers still need a ride: 10 trips.
3. The 2/3 team.
24ths: 5/8 = 15/24 and 2/3 = 16/24. 16 beats 15, so 2/3 is further — only just.
4. 652 metres.
174 × 5 = 870 m, then 870 − 218 = 652 m.
5. 7 packs each.
9 × 6 = 54, then 54 − 12 = 42, then 42 ÷ 6 = 7. Three steps, and the order matters.
4th Grade
1. 1,786 packs.
38 × 47 = (38 × 40) + (38 × 7) = 1,520 + 266 = 1,786.
2. 7/12 of the way down.
12ths: 5/6 = 10/12 and 1/4 = 3/12. 10/12 − 3/12 = 7/12.
3. 602 metres a day, remainder 1.
4,215 ÷ 7 = 602 remainder 1. Check: 602 × 7 = 4,214, plus 1 = 4,215. ✓
4. 5.75 kg.
9.40 − 3.65 = 5.75 kg. Pad the 9.4 to 9.40 first.
5. 1,775 metres.
320 × 7 = 2,240 m, then 2,240 − 465 = 1,775 m.