The Lost Button On Santa's Coat

1. There were five buttons on Santa's shirt, one more than on his coat and this was one third of the number of buttons on Santa's suit. How many buttons did the shirt, coat and suit have ? Write an algebraic equation to explain this if t = total number of buttons.

2. If all 4 buttons on Santa's coat weighed 40 grams in total, how much did one weigh ?

3. The button measured 4 cm across the middle. Work out the circumference, radius and area of the button.

4. If Santa's coat measured 48 cm long - how far apart were each of the four buttons ?

5. Santa left the house at 8 . 00 a.m. He walked 1200 metres in half an hour to the bus - stop. One third of the way along on his journey, when and where did he lose his button ?

6. When Santa lost his button off his coat, it took 45 minutes to find - three quarters of the time of Santa's lunch break. How long did Santa have for lunch ?

7. If all of the four buttons on Santa's coat were lined up next to oen another, how far would they stretch ?

8. Santa bought the coat for £5. To replace the button cost 25 pence. Expess this as a ratio, fraction, percentage and decimal of the original price.

9. Santa's button, when it fell off his coat, rolled 500 metres along the pavement - one fifth of the length of the street. How long was street ? Give your answer in metres and kilometres.

10. It took Santa ten minutes to stitch the button back on - one twelth of the time it took to cook tea - how long did he cook for ?

11. It took 110 stitches to mend the coat - 10 % of them, Santa pricked his finger. How many is that ?

© Jacqueline Richards 2008

Answers : 1. a) 5 b) 4 c) 12 ; t = 5 + (5 -1) + 3(5 - 1) t = 5 + 4 + 12 = 21 2. 10 g 3. 4. 48 / 4 = 12 cm 5. a) 1200 + (1200 / 3 = 400) = 1600 ; b) 8.00 + (30 / 3 = 10) = 8.10 a.m. 6. 1 hour 7. 4 x 4 = 16 cm 8. 1 : 19 ; one 20th ; 5 % ; 0.02 9. 500 x 5 = 2500 m = 2.5 km 10. two hours 11. 11