The correct answer to this puzzle is as follows: John put into his
money-box two double florins (8s.), William a half-sovereign and a
florin (12s.), Charles a crown (5s.), and Thomas a sovereign (20s.).
There are six coins in all, of a total value of 45s. If John had 2s.
more, William 2s. less, Charles twice as much, and Thomas half as much
as they really possessed, they would each have had exactly 10s.
18.--THE MARKET WOMEN.
The price received was in every case 105 farthings. Therefore the
greatest number of women is eight, as the goods could only be sold at
the following rates: 105 lbs. at 1 farthing, 35 at 3, 21 at 5, 15 at 7,
7 at 15, 5 at 21, 3 at 35, and 1 lb. at 105 farthings.
19.--THE NEW YEAR'S EVE SUPPERS.
The company present on the occasion must have consisted of seven pairs,
ten single men, and one single lady. Thus, there were twenty-five
persons in all, and at the prices stated they would pay exactly L5
together.
20.--BEEF AND SAUSAGES.
The lady bought 48 lbs. of beef at 2s., and the same quantity of
sausages at 1s. 6d., thus spending L8, 8s. Had she bought 42 lbs. of
beef and 56 lbs. of sausages she would have spent L4, 4s. on each, and
have obtained 98 lbs. instead of 96 lbs.--a gain in weight of 2 lbs.
21.--A DEAL IN APPLES.
I was first offered sixteen apples for my shilling, which would be at
the rate of ninepence a dozen. The two extra apples gave me eighteen for
a shilling, which is at the rate of eightpence a dozen, or one penny a
dozen less than the first price asked.
22.--A DEAL IN EGGS.
The man must have bought ten eggs at fivepence, ten eggs at one penny,
and eighty eggs at a halfpenny. He would then have one hundred eggs at a
cost of eight shillings and fourpence, and the same number of eggs of
two of the qualities.
23.--THE CHRISTMAS-BOXES.
The distribution took place "some years ago," when the fourpenny-piece
was in circulation. Nineteen persons must each have received nineteen
pence. There are five different ways in which this sum may have been
paid in silver coins. We need only use two of these ways. Thus if
fourteen men each received four four-penny-pieces and one
threepenny-piece, and five men each received five threepenny-pieces and
one fourpenny-piece, each man would receive nineteen pence, and there
would be exactly one hundred coins of a total value of L1, 10s. 1d.
24.--A SHOPPING PERPLEXITY.
The first purchase amounted to 1s. 53/4d., the second to 1s. 111/2d.,
and together they make 3s. 51/4d. Not one of these three amounts can be
paid in fewer than six current coins of the realm.
25.--CHINESE MONEY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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