Page Number Puzzle: Andrei's Book Sum
Alright guys, let's dive into this math problem! It sounds like a fun little puzzle involving page numbers. Andrei opens a book and spots the number 35 on the right-hand page. The question is: what's the sum of both page numbers we're looking at? Time to put on our thinking caps and break this down step by step.
Understanding Page Numbers
First things first, let's remember how books work. When you open a book, you always see two pages at the same time: a left-hand page and a right-hand page. The right-hand page always has an odd number, and the left-hand page has the even number that comes right before it. So, if we see page 35 on the right, that means the page on the left must be 34. This is a fundamental concept of how books are formatted, and understanding it is crucial for solving this problem.
Think about it like this: every pair of facing pages in a book is a set of two consecutive numbers. The smaller number is always on the left, and the larger number is always on the right. This pattern holds true throughout the entire book, except for perhaps the very first page, which might just be a title page or an introduction. But for the main content of the book, this rule of consecutive numbering always applies. So, with Andrei looking at page 35 on the right, we know for sure that page 34 is staring back at him from the left.
Now, why is this important? Because it's the key to unlocking the answer to our puzzle! We're not just interested in the number 35; we need to figure out what both page numbers add up to. And to do that, we need to identify both numbers correctly. Remembering this simple rule about page numbering helps us avoid any confusion and ensures we get the right answer. It's like a little trick that makes solving the problem much easier. So, keep this in mind as we move forward: right-hand pages are always odd, left-hand pages are always even, and they're always consecutive numbers. Got it? Great! Let's move on to the next step.
Identifying the Two Page Numbers
Okay, so Andrei sees page number 35 on the right-hand side of the book. Simple enough, right? But here's the catch – we need to figure out what the page number is on the left-hand side. Now, remember how books are set up. The page numbers always go in order, with the left page being an even number and the right page being an odd number. They're like two peas in a pod, always next to each other.
Since page 35 is on the right, we just need to subtract 1 to find the page number on the left. That means the page on the left is number 34. Easy peasy! We've now identified both page numbers that Andrei is looking at: page 34 and page 35. This is a crucial step because we can't calculate the sum until we know exactly which two numbers we're working with.
It's like trying to bake a cake without knowing all the ingredients. You might have flour, but you also need eggs, sugar, and butter to make it complete. Similarly, in this math problem, we need both page numbers to find the sum. Knowing just one number isn't enough. We need to identify both the left-hand page and the right-hand page to move forward.
Some people might get tripped up and think that the page on the left could be a different number, maybe because they forget how books are organized. But always remember that those page numbers are consecutive. They follow each other in a neat, orderly fashion. So, if you know one page number, you can always figure out the other one by either adding or subtracting 1. In this case, since we knew the right-hand page was 35, we subtracted 1 to find that the left-hand page was 34. Now that we've got both numbers in hand, we're ready for the final step: adding them together.
Calculating the Sum
Alright, we've identified the two page numbers: 34 and 35. Now, the final step is to simply add these two numbers together. This is where your basic addition skills come into play. What's 34 + 35?
You can do this in your head, on paper, or even use a calculator if you want to be absolutely sure. But the answer is 69. So, the sum of the two page numbers that Andrei is looking at is 69. Nice! We've solved the puzzle.
Think about it: 34 plus 35 equals 69. It's a straightforward calculation, but it's important to get it right. Double-check your work if you need to, just to make sure you haven't made any silly mistakes. Math problems are all about accuracy, so taking a moment to verify your answer is always a good idea.
Now, let's think about why this step is so important. We could have done all the previous steps perfectly, identifying the correct page numbers and understanding the layout of the book. But if we messed up the addition, we would still get the wrong answer. It's like building a house with a solid foundation but then putting the roof on crookedly. The whole thing falls apart.
So, make sure you pay attention to the details and perform the calculation carefully. Adding 34 and 35 is not difficult, but it requires focus and attention. Once you've done that, you can confidently say that you've solved the problem and found the correct sum. And that's a great feeling, isn't it? Knowing that you've taken the time to understand the problem, identify the relevant information, and perform the necessary calculations to arrive at the right answer. That's what math is all about! So, congratulations, you've successfully calculated the sum of the two page numbers.
Solution
Therefore, the sum of the two page numbers is 69.
Final Answer: The final answer is