Page 146 - Foundations of Learning, 4th Edition (Revised)

Problem Solving Methodology Case Study

Scenario: Three students are going to share a two-bedroom apartment for the school year. The rent is $700
per month, and the size of the apartment is 1,720 square feet. The students need to figure out an equitable
way to choose rooms and then assign rent for each person.

Problem statement:
Determine who gets which bedroom and how much each person should pay toward the total rent of
$700.

Key issues:
The following are issues that should be considered:

Does each student need or want his own room?
Can another room be converted to a bedroom?
Are some rooms better (worth more) than others?
What characteristics should be used to place a value on each room?
What is the value of a private room?
What is the value of the common area (the non-bedroom space)?
How much rent can each student afford?
Do two people want to share a room?
How should the order for choosing rooms be decided?

43 ft.

Kitchen Living Room 40 ft.

Bedroom 1 Bedroom 2 18 ft.
Bath

Information: 15 ft. 20 ft.

Summarize the information that is known.

The two bedrooms are 270 square feet and 360 square feet.

The total area of the apartment is 1,720 square feet (40 ft × 43 ft).

Total house area = common area + large bedroom + small bedroom

1,720 ft2 = 1,090 ft2 + 360 ft2 + 270 ft2

The monthly rent is $700.

140 Foundations of Learning