More Proof That Our Country’s Education System is in Serious Trouble

A while back I posted a really difficult math problem from a 5th grade textbook. Like Fermat’s last theorem, it may take 350 years to be solved. Here is another one from that same book.



In case you can’t read it, it says, "Write a Problem: Write a two-step problem that contains a hidden question about buying something at the mall. Tell what the hidden question is and solve your problem. Use $8.95 somewhere in your equation. Write your answer in a complete sentence."

So far, all we have are the following:

A. If a tree falls in the forest does it still cost 8.95?
B. What is a hidden question? Where do you hide it?
C. What can you buy at the mall for $8.95?
D. I was looking for something I needed at Sharper Image. I only had $8.95. They threw me out. Hidden question: what could I possibly need that is sold at Sharper Image?