Grade
5

Would You Rather? Let It Snow!

There is a snowstorm heading toward your town.

Would you rather have the snowstorm start…

At midnight, snowing 1 and 1-fourth inches per hour for 7 hours, then 2-thirds of an inch per hour for 2 more hours? Or, at noon, snowing 1 and 3-fifths inches per hour for 6 hours, then 3-fourths of an inch per hour for 3 more hours.

Use pictures, models, words, numbers, or symbols to justify your choice. 

I would rather have the snowstorm start … because … 

Challenge

Can you think of a reason the other choice might make sense?

Follow-Up

Create your own problem like this one. Share it with someone and ask them to explain their choice.

Printable Version

Google doc for printing and copying

Reference for Educators

Sample problems and solutions