Talk

lol at teacher not understanding the answer

MMJ - your DH is a mathemagician

<<swoon>>

<<very quiet voice: what does "^" mean? Is it what you use for "divided by" because the keyboard doesn't do the trad symbol?>>

V=area of base x height

3000cm cubed = 100cm squared x height

height = 3000/100 =30cm

I am still a bit stuck on how the formula for the area of a regular hexagon is 3x^2.

However, ds confirms your dh's formula for that is correct ("because, mum, it's six triangles, not six squares" <- my completely uncomprehending expression).

Will be back once have got head round it ... thanks SO much though!

<<scratches head in bafflement>>

you might like this to calculate areas

I found a really good book that answers questions like this

it's called Match Wits with the Kids

Thank you everybody! - and the book looks fantastic. I found one once (aimed at teachers) which was called Getting the Buggers to Think, but was kind of re the title.

Anyway, it seems that the question was meant to be the simple one, so my brain is now having a rest.

I do love Mumsnet - where else could you have an exchange like this?