after the froe

I've always loved it that when Almanzo goes to watch his father working at his shaving-bench, Mr. Wilder asks him: "Be you having a good time, son?" Is there any place in the "Little House" books where Laura is asked if she's having fun, or encouraged in her play?

Mr. Wilder is shaving shingles, a skill we assume Almanzo learns at some point, even though a single swipe or two with the draw-knife satisfies his curiosity on that day. And in keeping with the idea that whatever you want to know how to do in the "Little House" world, you can find on youtube, CLICK HERE to see a video about shingle-making. Knowing how many shingles you would need for a given project is another skill Almanzo probably learned to "figure." Here are some early math problems involving shingles, meant to be used in the grammar school. Can your nine-year-old solve these math problems?

1. In measuring shingles, the average width of the shingles is supposed to be 4 inches. The length varies, but they are always laid so that more than two thirds of the shingle is covered by the courses of shingles above. If they are laid so that 5 inches of the length are exposed to the weather, a shingle 4 inches wide will really make how many square inches of roof? 1000 shingles will make how many square inches of roof?

2. When shingles are laid 6 inches to the weather, each shingle will make how many square inches of roof? How many shingles will make one square foot of roof? How many shingles are required for one square (100 square feet) of roof?

3. How many shingles laid 6 inches to the weather are required for one square foot of roof? For one square of roof? For a roof 20 feet long, each slanting side of which measures 9 feet in width?

4. Find the cost of the shingles for a roof measuring 45 feet long by 20 feet each slanting side at $4.50 per 1000 shingles, estimating that 675 shingles will make one square of roof.

5. Find the cost of the shingles for a roof 36 feet long, each slanting side 19 feet wide, the shingles being laid so that seven shingles make one square foot of roof, and costing $5.20 per 1000.

6. A shed roof 18 feet by 40 feet slants only one way. Find the cost of the shingles required for it at $4.80 per 1000, the shingles being laid so that 7-1/2 shingles make one square foot of roof.

7. The shingles for a roof cost $68.25. Each side of the roof measured 25 feet by 35 feet, and the shingles were laid so that 6-1/2 shingles made a square foot of roof. Find the price per thousand.
- posted by pioneergirl at 10:50 PM