More Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School (Wayside School 2.60)

Page 7

“We’re doing arithmetic,” explained Mrs. Jewls.

“When my class does arithmetic, we work quietly,” said Miss Worm.

“It always gets us very excited,” said Mrs. Jewls.

Miss Worm couldn’t imagine how arithmetic could be exciting, so she asked if she could watch. “Add something,” she said.

“Like what?” asked Mrs. Jewls.

“Eight plus eight,” suggested Miss Worm.

So everybody in the class tried to add eight plus eight.

“I know it ends in two,” said Stephen.

“No, it doesn’t,” said Miss Worm.

“Yes, it does,” said Mrs. Jewls, who thought Stephen had said it ended in “top.” But either way, Stephen was right.

Mrs. Jewls put the problem on the board.

PROBLEM 14

“Wait a minute! Wait a minute!” shouted Miss Worm. “I didn’t mean the word eight. I meant the number, 8.”

“But Miss Worm,” said Mrs. Jewls. “There isn’t an 8 anywhere in the problem.”

a = ?gggh = ?gggo = ?gggg = ?

t = ?gggi = ?ggge = ?

(And remember, there isn’t an eight anywhere in the problem!)

(Clue on page 41. Hint on page 45.)

Miss Worm tried to get the class to add one plus one, and two plus two, but without any better results.

PROBLEM 15

t = ?gggw = ?gggi = ?gggr = ?gggl = ?

z = ?gggo = ?gggn = ?ggge = ?