Question

Diego is waiting in line and is the 23rd customer. He thinks that he should get farther back in line in order to get a prize. Is he right? If so, how far back should he go to get at least one prize? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

Yes he is right. He has to move one step behind to get an award.

Explanation:

Here is the full question:

Lin’s uncle is opening a bakery. On the bakery’s grand opening day, he plans to give away prizes to the first 50 customers that enter the shop. Every fifth customer will get a free bagel. Every ninth customer will get a free blueberry muffin. Every 12th customer will get a free slice of carrot cake.

To answer the above question, we already know that Diego is standing in the 23rd position and it is said that every 12th customer will get a free slice of carrot cake. Therefore, those on position 12, 24, 36, 48, . . . will get this award. Simply put, those in positions that are multiples of 12.

Since Diego is thinking of moving farther backwards to get an award, then he is right. Also, he has to move just one step behind to be in a multiple of 12, that is move from 23 to 24, to get an award.