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Lick These Limericks
produce me, if you're using times; If my digits you add, Another prime will be had. Two answers--and nothing else rhymes.
Limerick Problem #2: Whose two digits, when switched clear around, Was the product (quite fair) Of a cube and a square, And its name will most surely astound.
Source: John Gregory & Dale Seymour's Limerick Number Puzzles (Creative Publications, 1978) Hint: Take one clue at a time in the order given...try to write down what options remain at each step.
Solution Commentary: Algebra is not needed to solve these limericks. Rather the key is to think your way to a solution using problem solving skills such as establishing special cases, looking for patterns, building tables, etc. For example, in Limerick #1, start with the set of one-digit primes (these are not that many options!) and produce all possible products. then focus on the next clue, etc. For each, ask if the answer unique? Finally, I wish this resource book was still in print. My students always enjoyed these limericks and learned alot about the reasoning process as a precursor to the formal proof process....plus they got a good review of common mathematical concepts and words. I will try to include more limericks later on.
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