About three blocks from our school is a place that was once called Willow Grove Park. Willow Grove, Pennsylvania is a suburb of Philadelphia, and Willow Grove Park was opened in 1896. It was opened for picnics and to encourage riders to use the new trolley line from Philadelphia. By 1905, the park had a lake with boats, a roller coaster, a toboggan ride, carousels, a Ferris wheel, and a midway. Eventually the midway had over 100 amusement concessions. The first movie theater was located here. On many weekends the park would entertain up to 50,000 people. The park became most famous for its large band shell in which many famous musicians played. Probably the most famous was John Phillip Sousa, who became well known for his wonderful marches.
During the 1920's and 1930's the park began to decline because the owners began to charge admission, and then because of the Great Depression. Much later, a smaller amusement park was built, but it was never as popular as the old park. In 1982 the park was dismantled and replaced by a modern mall. Inside can be seen large banners showing some of the midway acts. In another part of the mall is a large fountain above which hang many carousel animals.
Math Problems:
1. A trolley ride in the 1800's cost $0.15 from Philadelphia to Willow Grove. If a person worked at the park and rode the trolley round trip every day for a year except for Sundays, then how much money would that person have spent in trolley fare?
2. The sword swallower at Willow Grove Park had 64 swords. Sixteen of the swords were bent and could not be used. What fraction of the swords were still usable?
Solving the problems:
1. In order to solve the problem, a person must know how many days and weeks in a year, and also be aware that $0.25 was a one way fare.
2. For this problem the person solving it must be able to subtract, then form and reduce a fraction to it lowest terms.