Problem of the Week
Problem B and Solution
Skyline Numbers

Problem

On June 3, 1989 the SkyDome (now known as the Rogers Centre) opened its doors to the public.

1. The Toronto Blue Jays played their first World Series game at the SkyDome on October 20, 1992. How many days was this after the opening of the SkyDome? Don’t forget that 1992 was a leap year.

2. The overall cost of the SkyDome was \(\$570\) million. If construction officially began on October 3, 1986, how much money was spent on average each month from the date construction began until its opening?

3. If the original builders were expecting the total cost of \(\$570\) million to average to a cost of \(\$15\) million per year over the lifetime of the SkyDome, for how many years did the original builders expect the SkyDome to last?

Solution

1. The number of days after June 3, 1989 until October 20, 1992 can be calculated in this way:

   Time	Number of days
   June 4, 1989 - June 3, 1991	\(365 \times 2 = 730\)
   June 4, 1991 - June 3, 1992*	\(366\)
   June 4, 1992 - June 30, 1992	\(27\)
   July 1992	\(31\)
   August 1992	\(31\)
   September 1992	\(30\)
   October 1, 1992 - October 20, 1992	\(20\)
   Total	\(1235\)

   *1992 was a leap year.

2. The period from October 3, 1986 to June 3, 1989 is equal to \(2\) years and \(8\) months. This is equivalent to \(2 \times 12 + 8 = 32\) months.
   Thus, the average cost per month is \(\$570\, 000\, 000 \div 32 = \$17\, 812 \,500\) per month.

3. The number of years they were expecting the SkyDome to last is \(570\, 000\, 000\div 15\, 000\, 000 = 38\) years.