Elementary, Dear Arithmophobe - writercize #21 (A to Z 5)

If I know one thing about writers and linguists, it's this: 95% of you are terrified of math.  (Ok, that's not a true statistic, and the number may be inflated, but ... it's something I hear all too frequently.)

I seem to be one of the lucky few who really loved both as a child, and still do as an adult.  Numbers do not terrify me; I actually get overly excited with number puzzles and sudoku.  Though admittedly they can send my brain running circles around itself occasionally, like a dog chasing it's tail, and I do not like to play real-life budgetary games with them.  I would much prefer an infinite supply of monetary funds rather than have to crunch dollar signs, but I digress.

As terrifying as arithmetic may sound to some of you, as a writer I am positive you can set out a clear word problem for an elementary school math textbook.  And that is exactly your challenge today!

writing exercise:  Pick a simple math sentence (i.e. 5 + 6 = 11).  Translate it into a word problem that would appeal to elementary school-aged children ages 8-10, where they are asked to provide the solution.

(Click "read more" for writercizer sample response.)

writercizer sample response:

8 / 2 = 4

It was time for the square dancing lesson in Ms. Bigg's 4th grade gym class.  The first group of eight students was selected to learn and demonstrate how to do-si-do.  Ms. Biggs told the eight students to divide into pairs by choosing a dance partner.  Each pair must consist of two students.  How many pairs did those eight students make?