Chess board maths! By CHRIS 2 = Chris de Jager & Chris van Zyl Tshwane University of Technology

What is the volume of grains of rice which can be placed on the chess board? Place 1 grain of rice on square 1, 2 on square 2 4 on square 3 Keep on doubling it each time. Add it all together at the end (Good luck!) (Hint : 255 grains of rice = 5ml)

1=2 0 2=2 1 4=2 2 8=

Total for first row = 255 grains = 5 ml = 1 teaspoon

500 ml grains of rice d h h = 60 mm d = 180 mm

Total volume of grains of rice d h h = 5,37 km d = 16,1 km

= Approximately the size of Mount Kilimanjaro!