Lesson 1: Fermi Problems

Let’s make some estimates.

1.1: Ant Trek

How long would it take an ant to run from Los Angeles to New York City?

1.2: Stacks and Stacks of Cereal Boxes

Imagine a warehouse that has a rectangular floor and that contains all of the boxes of breakfast cereal bought in the United States in one year.

If the warehouse is 10 feet tall, what could the side lengths of the floor be?

1.3: Covering the Washington Monument

How many tiles would it take to cover the Washington Monument?

An outline of the Washington Monument with one trapezoidal side and one triangular face.