A number of men went out together on a bean-feast. There were four
parties invited--namely, 25 cobblers, 20 tailors, 18 hatters, and 12
glovers. They spent altogether L6, 13s. It was found that five cobblers
spent as much as four tailors; that twelve tailors spent as much as nine
hatters; and that six hatters spent as much as eight glovers. The puzzle
is to find out how much each of the four parties spent.
5.--A QUEER COINCIDENCE.
Seven men, whose names were Adams, Baker, Carter, Dobson, Edwards,
Francis, and Gudgeon, were recently engaged in play. The name of the
particular game is of no consequence. They had agreed that whenever a
player won a game he should double the money of each of the other
players--that is, he was to give the players just as much money as they
had already in their pockets. They played seven games, and, strange to
say, each won a game in turn, in the order in which their names are
given. But a more curious coincidence is this--that when they had
finished play each of the seven men had exactly the same amount--two
shillings and eightpence--in his pocket. The puzzle is to find out how
much money each man had with him before he sat down to play.
6.--A CHARITABLE BEQUEST.
A man left instructions to his executors to distribute once a year
exactly fifty-five shillings among the poor of his parish; but they were
only to continue the gift so long as they could make it in different
ways, always giving eighteenpence each to a number of women and half a
crown each to men. During how many years could the charity be
administered? Of course, by "different ways" is meant a different number
of men and women every time.
7.--THE WIDOW'S LEGACY.
A gentleman who recently died left the sum of L8,000 to be divided among
his widow, five sons, and four daughters. He directed that every son
should receive three times as much as a daughter, and that every
daughter should have twice as much as their mother. What was the widow's
share?
8.--INDISCRIMINATE CHARITY.
A charitable gentleman, on his way home one night, was appealed to by
three needy persons in succession for assistance. To the first person he
gave one penny more than half the money he had in his pocket; to the
second person he gave twopence more than half the money he then had in
his pocket; and to the third person he handed over threepence more than
half of what he had left. On entering his house he had only one penny in
his pocket. Now, can you say exactly how much money that gentleman had
on him when he started for home?
9.--THE TWO AEROPLANES.
A man recently bought two aeroplanes, but afterwards found that they
would not answer the purpose for which he wanted them. So he sold them
for L600 each, making a loss of 20 per cent. on one machine and a profit
of 20 per cent. on the other. Did he make a profit on the whole
transaction, or a loss? And how much?
10.--BUYING PRESENTS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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