UF Math Brainteaser : Gatorade^®
April 2001

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Gatorade^® brainteaser contest. There were several very nice entries, so choosing a winner was difficult:

Problem: How many 20-ounce bottles of Gatorade^® would you have to drink in order to ingest the same amount of salt contained in one 8-ounce cup of sea water?

The following facts may be useful in solving this problem:

1. One ounce of sea water weighs 242.5 grams,
2. Sea Water is 3.5% salt by weight, and
3. One 20-ounce bottle of Gatorade^® has 699 milligrams of salt.

Eligibility: All UF students currently enrolled in MGF 1106-7, MAC 1114, MAC 1140, MAC 1147, MAC 2233 or MAC 2311.

Students: Hand deliver your solution to the receptionist (Connie) in Little 358 by Friday, April 13, 2:00 pm. The reception desk is open during regular business hours (8:30am - 4:30 pm).

Your solution must include (1) your name, (2) your math class and section number, and (3) your postal and email addresses.

Solutions are graded and ranked according to the following criteria:

• accuracy
• creativity/ingenuity
• clarity/legibility

If more than one solution receives the top ranking, then one solution will be drawn from among them. The winner will be announced by name on the homepage of the Department of Mathematics on April 20 and will receive a $25 cash award.

This activity is part of Mathematics Awareness Month 2001 at the University of Florida. The theme this year is Mathematics and the Ocean. Just as Florida is surrounded by the ocean and the gulf, and filled with lakes and streams, mathematics is all around us.