Today from Bedtime Math: Crabby About the Weather

Sure, on Groundhog Day we watch a certain Pennsylvania groundhog to see whether he spots his shadow and predicts an early spring. But why should Punxsutawney Phil have all the fun? A Maryland crab has decided that he can predict our fall weather. Every year "Baltimore Bill" walks down a wooden dock that splits into two choices: "warm fall" and "early winter." Yesterday was the big event for this year's prediction, and he headed towards warm fall. Last year he chose early winter, which turned out to be correct. Baltimore Bill probably walked sideways like most crab do, as the shape of their many legs makes that direction easier. We aren't sure whether other friends like the horseshoe crab, king crab and hermit crab walk sideways because as it turns out, none of those is a real crab. But Baltimore Bill is as real as a crab can get, and so are his weather-sensing skills.

Now here's today's math~

Wee ones: If Baltimore Bill likes to alternate and walks towards warm fall one year, then early winter, then warm fall, then early winter, which way will he walk next?

Little kids: A crab has 4 legs on the left side and another 4 on the right. How many legs is that? Bonus: However, a crab also has 2 more leglike appendages (body parts) with claws on them, hence crab are called "decapods." How many appendages does a crab have in total?

Big kids: Baltimore Bill probably wanted to dive right off the end of the plank into the water. If he had to walk 4 feet to get to the fork and another 2 feet to jump off the end, how many inches did he have to walk? (Reminder: A foot has 12 inches.)  Bonus: Winter starts for real on December 21 this year. How many days is that from Baltimore Bill's October 1 weather prediction stunt? (Reminder: October has 31 days, but November has just 30.)

Answers:

Wee ones: Warm fall.

Little kids: 8 legs.  Bonus: 10 appendages.

Big kids: 72 inches, since it's 6 feet.  Bonus: 81 days. October 31 is 30 days later, and November 30 is another 30 after that, plus 21 days into December.