Notes:

This problem is the first one we tackle in the course, “Quantitative Problem Solving” at Baldwin Wallace University. The course has no math prerequisites. We have theater majors, business majors, history majors, and a variety of others.

The problem is not solved with math formulas, but by thinking, wondering, and exploring. It takes few weeks to finally solve it. The students get a lot of encouragement, coaching, and advice from the professors, but it is the students who figure it out. They figure it out by developing a fundamental understanding of probability. We never discuss or use factorials or formulas. They do what makes sense to them. They eventually say, “Oh, I get it, that makes sense.” When they finally solve it, they are proud of themselves because they had no idea how to start and they eventually figured it out. One student said, “I had no idea how smart I was!” This is understandable. If the teacher doesn’t challenge students to struggle with hard problems, they’ll never have the opportunity to experience success after a long struggle. This so important. This is part of being a human being. Struggling and then succeeding. A good example of this is an infant learning how to walk. It takes months, but they eventually succeed, and they are so proud of themselves.