h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today's unofficial question in Greebo's absence, for which a virtual non-scoring point will be awarded:

A man went into a shop, proffered a pound coin and said, 'Give me some pennies, ten times as many 2p pieces, and the balance in 5p pieces.' How was this puzzling request met?

18 pennies
36 two pennces
2 five pences

Of course it also works for pennies - a two pences - 2a and 5 pences + a

"Sorry, we don't give change."

9 pennies
18 2ps
11 5ps

"How rude! You could at least say 'please'."

B

You can tell I adapted the question from an American one, can't you?

I'm still trying to explain why 'Monopoly' was the correct answer to the question I set yesterday.

B

Gnomon, do you relly mean 10 times as many 2p pieces?

If yes, a (non-)solution is
5 penies
50 2p
-1 5p.

So the man would have to give one 5p piece back for the balance.

HP
»--.

20 five oence pieces.

0 pennies x 10 = 0 2 pences leaving a pound of 5 pences.

Surely 0 is not 'some', though.

B

I got the question wrong!



It should have been:

A man went into a shop, proffered a pound coin and said, 'Please give me some 2p coins, ten times as many pennies, and the balance in 5p pieces.' How was this puzzling request met?

Is it still worth answering? If so it's.....

5 2ps
50 1ps
8 5ps

Seamus

5 tuppences
50 pennies and
9 five pences

5 tuppences
50 pennies and
8 five pences

The shopekeeper said "None of that now! I'll give you a dollar and be done with it!" (from the American who has no clue how to work British money)

Quick guide, then:

A 2p piece is worth two pence (or pennies),
A 5p piece is worth five pence.

Perhaps it's just me, but it seems less complicated than asking a question in terms of nickels and dimes.

Sorry, the balance is not for sale.

I'd forgotten they still used pounds over there.

I would gladly do business with DD if he always adds up like that!

I was working in POound shillings and pence.