We have been working on fractions for 2 weeks now in math.  Today for their math journal I gave them a fraction word problem challenge.  They worked in groups to try and figure out the challenge.  Congratulations to Ian, Alberto, and Saxton to be the first group to solve the challenge.  Then they presented how they solved the challenge to the class.  Here is the challenge.

Cookie Jar Challenge Fractions

There was a jar of cookies on the table.

First, Julio came along.  Julio was very hungry because he hadn’t had any lunch, so he ate half the cookies in the jar.

Marilyn came next.  She had missed dessert, so she ate one third of what was left.

At that point, Marcus came by, and he took three fourths of the remaining cookies.

Then Shauna came jogging along and took one cookie to munch on.

If one cookie was left at that point, how many cookies were there in the jar to begin with?