Problem set #3

Question 14:
Carly takes 3 steps to walk the same distance as Jim walks in 4 steps. Each of Carly's steps covers 0.5 meters. How many meters does Jim travel in 24 steps?

Answer:
Carly's steps cover 0.5 meters and when she walks 3 steps that equals the distance Jim covers in 3 of his own steps.
So 0.5 meters x 3 of Carly's steps = 1.5 meters.
1.5 meters = 4 of Jim's steps.
Now you divide 24 steps by 4 steps =  6 steps
Now this equals 6 steps mulitplied by 1.5 meters giving you the answer of 9 meters.
John walks travels 9 meters in 24 steps.

Why do I like this question?
I like this question because the first time I did this I thought it was extremly easy but ended up with the wrong answer. It gave me determination. 

What have I learned about problem solving?
I've learned that I need to double check my answers and make sure my calculations are correct. When I first did this I read it as :
"Carly takes 4 steps to walk the same distance as Jim walks in 3 steps. Each of Carly's steps covers 0.5 meters. How many meters does Jim travel in 24 steps?"
 I messed up the integers in the process making my reckoning wrong. I had to do everything over again to get the correct answer. This wouldn't have occurred if I hadn't rushed through it and double checked. No matter how easy an equation looks you shouldn't skip steps because with one little mistake, it messes up your whole calculation.