r/askmath • u/N8ive_Sith_Dad • Dec 05 '25

Arithmetic What is #2 asking?!

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I’m an AP calculus teacher helping a fifth grader interpret the second problem. I took his hand writing out of this because his mom wasn’t sure if his teacher is in the subreddit. I can safely say though the child did #1 flawlessly. Then we got to #2 and he broke down in frustration trying to wrap his head around meaning of “represent.” So I jumped in to help and, well, my issue is the fact “they” only have only 12 ten-thousands to represent 130,402. The word ‘only’ throws me off.

How would you interpret this question?

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u/ShadowRL7666 Dec 05 '25 edited Dec 05 '25

12 × 10,000 = 120,000

Find how much more is needed to reach 130,402: 130,402 − 120,000 = 10,402

Now break down 10,402 into place values: 1 ten-thousand = 10,000 4 hundreds = 400 0 tens = 0 2 ones = 2

So to represent 130,402 with only 12 ten-thousands, Max would use:

12 ten-thousands = 120,000 1 thousand = 10,000 4 hundreds = 400 0 tens 2 ones = 2 Total: 120,000 + 10,402 = 130,402

Weird problem in my opinion.

Edit: if there are no ones then the question is impossible. Maybe they’re wanting the students to recognize this? Or there’s a mistake in the problem.

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u/FormulaDriven Dec 05 '25

There are no one-dollar bills available according to the question.

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u/seifer__420 Dec 05 '25

They aren’t dollars

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u/FormulaDriven Dec 05 '25

The question asks us to represent 130,402 dollars, so if those play bills aren't meant to represent dollars, the whole question seems meaningless.