Number (addition and subtraction): Frog vs Wasp

Further Challenges

• This problem can be extended by changing one or more of the following:

– The number of eggs stolen each day

– The duration (length of time) that the male frog was protecting the eggs

– The number of eggs that remained on the leaf

e.g. For a period of one week, a glass frog father tried to protect his precious eggs from some wasps. However, on the first day, the hungry wasps stole and ate one egg. On the second day, the wasps stole and ate double the number that were stolen on the first day. On the third day the wasps stole and ate double the number of eggs that were stolen on the second day. This pattern continued throughout the time that the father was protecting the eggs. By the end of this period, only 12 eggs remained on the leaf.

Can you work out how many eggs there were on the leaf to begin with?

Discuss and share your solution with a partner.