An easy question on tree planting for P2–P3, with a step-by-step solution, diagrams and the answer. Common in the Hua Xia Cup's P2 to P5 papers. Sawing logs, striking clocks and lining up lamp posts are all the same problem.
The question
A straight path in the park is 12 m long.
A gardener plants trees along one side of it.
There is a tree at the start and a tree at the end, and neighbouring trees are 3 m apart.
How many trees does the gardener plant?
Show the hints (2)
💡Hint 1: Try a very short path first: just two gaps of 3 m, both ends planted. Draw it — how many trees?
💡Hint 2: Find how many gaps the path splits into. Are there more trees than gaps, or fewer?
Worked solution
Have a go first, then read the solution step by step.
1.Gaps of 3 m: 12 ÷ 3 = 4 gaps.
2.With trees at both ends there is one more tree than gaps: 4 + 1 = 5 trees.
⚠️Common mistake: answering 4 and forgetting the tree at the start.
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