We can't believe this could really happen, but boy do we hope it will - it's just that cool. You might know about Amazon, a website where you shop on your computer by clicking on items and paying for them, instead of driving to the store. Well, Amazon is always looking to deliver faster and faster, and in this news story they show a video of mini-helicopters, or "drones," that can grab your package from their warehouse and fly it to you within half an hour! The thought of these machines buzzing through the air is pretty crazy - will they crash into each other? or land on our heads?
In Bedtime Math's early days we did a daily email about the Tacocopter, a made-up company where you could order tacos from your smartphone and a little "tacocopter" would drop them at your door. People were so bummed that the story wasn't true, but thanks to Amazon, maybe delivery drones are going to become reality.
Now here's today's math~
Wee ones: The Amazon delivery drone can carry up to 5 pounds of items. Can it bring you the 6-pound scooter you want to order?
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Little kids: If you order 6 pairs of blinking shoelaces, but the drone can carry up to 9, how many more can you order for that shipment? Bonus: Amazon says it will take at least 4 years from now before their drones are ready to fly. What's the earliest calendar year that we'll see them? (Reminder: we're in the year 2013 right now.)
Big kids: If you order a box of Lego at 1:44 pm online and it arrives at your door exactly 1/2 hour later, at what time does it arrive? Bonus: If each book in the My Weird School series weighs 7 ounces, how many books can the drone bring you within its 5-pound limit? (Reminder: a pound equals 16 ounces.)
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Answers:
Wee ones: Unfortunately no, since 6 pounds weighs more than 5.
Little kids: 3 more pairs. Bonus: The year 2017.
Big kids: 2:14 pm. Bonus: The drone can carry 80 ounces, so it can bring you only 11 books, for a total of 77 ounces...the next book will tip the scales to 84 ounces.
