Puzzle

[marcushill]

I've been toying with a puzzle to (possibly) use at work and thought I'd try it out on you, my adoring public.

Comments

[stsquad]

However none of the coins are silver. The 5/10/20/50ps are a Cupro-nickle compound. The coopers are not actually pure copper (its too expensive) but copper plated steel.

What was the question again?

[marcushill]

I knew that, of course. I was using "silver" in line with common parlance, since I'm developing the problem for use with people considerably less pedantic than you or I.

[ash1977law]

Ergo the answer to #1 is "no money"

I hereby claim my prize of 0p

[r_dragonsbain]

well if the 1p coin was before 1985 then it is still copper and worth approx 2p due to the current copper pricing.

[richc]

1 - 30p(10/10/10 + 20/5/5) or 60p(20/20/20 + 50+5+5) I think you need the 3 coins of same value restriction on this one.

2 - 202p (100/100/2 + 200/1/1)

3 - 110(50/50/10 + 100/5/5) -> 220 (200/10/10 + 100/100/20)

The 2 pound coin simplifies a lot of this puzzle type.

[marcushill]

I'll shift the 3 equal coins restriction to the general problem.

[anne_l_davies]

I had the same answers as Rich, but hadn't spotted the 60p possibility in Q1). if I hadn't nipped out to buy lunch I'd have got in their first. Curse my stomach!

[marcushill]

So, how much money has Rich won?

[nattydreadi]

You should note that the people can have more than one of each type of coin in the puzzle perhaps? It is not clear at second or third read which is the amount of time I am willing to spend working out a question, considerably more than the time an average 15 year old will spend.

[nattydreadi]

additinally, the wording of problem 3 is a little wierd ... lrn2banenglishteacherinstead

[marcushill]

Yeah, when you put the restriction that nobody has three of the same coin into the general description, part 3 can be much less wordy.

[anne_l_davies]

I think he deliberately wasn't mentioning that you could have more than one of each coin. To spell it out would make it too easy.

[mrssshhh]

I was going to make some sort of comment about "is that disclaimer in there for people like Alex, it's a bit sad that you have to...", but didn't because I thought it would be offensive.

However, it would seem that history proved me right!

[marcushill]

And for my next trick I'll formulate similar problems in each of the Maelstrom currencies.

[mrssshhh]

I will throw coins at your head if you promise not to.

Although, I might have to borrow you, in order to create such a test, to see if someone is worthy...

[marcushill]

Worthy of what?

[mrssshhh]

Leaving the Penitent Legions and re-gaining their Citizenship.