A Conversation for The H2G2 Puzzle Network
Puzzle 6
Popa_Mintin Started conversation Mar 5, 2005
I have 48 one pound coins (£48) which I have to share equally between a number of people.
How much cash does each person receive ? Please say why.
(I'm looking for a specific sum, not a formula.)
Puzzle 6
aka Bel - A87832164 Posted Mar 6, 2005
I'm not sure if I understand the question - don't I have to know between how many people you have to share ?
Puzzle 6
Icy North Posted Mar 10, 2005
Let's state the obvious, and see what happens:
Assume number of people is an integer n, where 1<=n<=48
Answer is either £48 (n=1), £24 (n=2), £16 (n=3), £12 (n=4), £8 (n=6), £6 (n=8), £4 (n=12), £3 (n=16), £2 (n=24) or £1 (n=48).
All other values of n undefined.
Puzzle 6
Popa_Mintin Posted Mar 11, 2005
Icy, Sorry pal, definately no cigar,
If you take another look at the question, it states quite clearly, I think, that (Quote):-
"I am looking for a specific sum, not a formula."
Popa.
Puzzle 6
Icy North Posted Mar 11, 2005
Well I only posted it cheekily, to elicit a response.
I wouldn't exactly call it a formula. s = 48/n would be the formula. I'd call it a statement of the ten possible solutions.
Seriously, I suspect that there is a lateral solution to this, but I haven't spotted it yet!
OK let's try this next:
Popa, as you didn't state the number of people, I have set this to be 8. The answer is £6.
Icy
Puzzle 6
aka Bel - A87832164 Posted Mar 11, 2005
I thought it should maybe be 1+x, depending on the number of people you shall share it through, but there are too many ifs included in that.
Puzzle 6
Icy North Posted Mar 21, 2005
I've come back to this time and time again, Popa, and I still can't see your lateral solution. I'm probably far too literal to see it.
Any other hints which might help us?
Icy
Puzzle 6
aka Bel - A87832164 Posted Mar 21, 2005
Hi Icy, if you know the difference between 'between' and 'among' you should get the solution - I still don't
Puzzle 6
Icy North Posted Mar 21, 2005
Hi Bel!
Aha! I think "between" in correct usage means "between two" (cf. Dutch "twee" = two). We should use "among" for more than two. This is an over-precise definition which has been lost in general usage.
The answer is therefore £24.
Puzzle 6
aka Bel - A87832164 Posted Mar 21, 2005
Thanks for explaining - I should have looked it up in my dictionary, but I thought I knew what it meant
Puzzle 6
Popa_Mintin Posted Mar 21, 2005
Smiles…
Quite right, both answer and reason. I was reluctant to say so, but this was an English Language problem rather than a Maths one. I must say it took a bit longer that I had expected for crossword addicts to solve though.
Well done you two.
Puzzle 6
Icy North Posted Mar 21, 2005
Thanks Popan - a good puzzle.
I have no idea how many years it's been since I last thought of the correct meaning of "between". I'm sure there are other, similar examples in our incomprehensible language.
Puzzle 6
Icy North Posted Mar 21, 2005
I don't understand that Freud stuff. Something to do with the mother figure. Is there a psychiatrist in the house?
Key: Complain about this post
Puzzle 6
- 1: Popa_Mintin (Mar 5, 2005)
- 2: aka Bel - A87832164 (Mar 6, 2005)
- 3: Icy North (Mar 10, 2005)
- 4: Popa_Mintin (Mar 11, 2005)
- 5: Icy North (Mar 11, 2005)
- 6: aka Bel - A87832164 (Mar 11, 2005)
- 7: Icy North (Mar 21, 2005)
- 8: aka Bel - A87832164 (Mar 21, 2005)
- 9: Icy North (Mar 21, 2005)
- 10: aka Bel - A87832164 (Mar 21, 2005)
- 11: Popa_Mintin (Mar 21, 2005)
- 12: aka Bel - A87832164 (Mar 21, 2005)
- 13: Icy North (Mar 21, 2005)
- 14: Icy North (Mar 21, 2005)
- 15: aka Bel - A87832164 (Mar 21, 2005)
- 16: Icy North (Mar 21, 2005)
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