This problem was very well answered. We had many very well explained solutions but Kirsty's solution was particularly clear:
There are 10 leaves per twig
There are 10 twigs per branch
10 leaves x 10 twigs = 100 leaves per branch
There are 10 branches per trunk
100 leaves x 10 branches = 1000 leaves per trunk
There are 10 trunks per tree
1000 leaves x 10 trunks = 10 000 leaves on the tree
Cut off one trunk: 10 000 - 1000 = 9000 leaves left
Cut off one branch: 9000 - 100 = 8900 leaves left
Cut off one twig: 8900 - 10 = 8890 leaves left
Pull off one leaf: 8890 - 1 = 8889 leaves left
There are 8889 leaves left on the tree.
This is excellently explained, Kirsty -
you have approached the problem very systematically.
Rachel who goes to Aldermaston CE Primary
School also sent in a fantastic solution. She did it in the same
way as Kirsty, but found the total number of leaves which had been
pulled off before the total number of leaves on the tree to start
with.
Here is everyone else who sent extremely clear solutions which were similar to either Kirsty's or Rachel's. You all deserve a mention - thank you!
Alistair from Histon and Impington
Junior School
Benjamin, Becki, Pauline, Chris, Elliot,
Luke, Ryo and Jake from Moorfield Junior School
Bianca and Kathryn from Devonshire Primary
School
Goh Bee, Khoo Kian, Tan Yan, Tan Jun, Tao
Mai and Ng Hui at Corporation Primary School in
Singapore
Hannah from South Parade Junior
School
Jennie at St. Nicolas CE Junior School,
Newbury
Jonathan at Dobcroft Junior School,
Sheffield
Joshua from Hillside Community Primary
School, Ipswich
Rachael from Ardingly College
Stephen from Moorlands School
Adam and Toby from Chacombe CE Primary
School
Chad who goes to the Canadian
Academy
Rushad, Oliver and Sabrina from Tanglin
Trust School, Singapore
Douglas from Burgoyne Middle
School