536 Puzzles and Curious Problems

(Elliott) #1
Money Puzzles 7


  1. POCKET MONEY


"When I got to the station this morning," said Harold Tompkins, at
his club, "I found I was short of cash. I spent just one-half of what I had on
my railway ticket, and then bought a nickel's worth of candy. When I got to
the terminus I spent half of what I had left and ten cents for a news-
paper. Then I spent half of the remainder on a bus and gave fifteen cents to
that old beggar outside the club. Consequently I arrive here with this single
nickel. How much did I start out with?"


  1. DISTRIBUTION


Nine persons in a party, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, did as follows: First A
gave each of the others as much money as he (the receiver) already
held; then B did the same; then C; and so on to the last, K giving to each of
the other eight persons the amount the receiver then held. Then it was found
that each of the nine persons held the same amount.
Can you find the smallest amount in cents that each person could
have originally held?



  1. REDUCTIONS IN PRICE


"I have often been mystified," said Colonel Crackham, "at the startling re-
ductions some people make in their prices, and wondered on what principle
they went to work. For example, a man offered me a motorcycle two years
ago for $1,024.00; a year later his price was $640.00; a little while after he
asked a level $400.00; and last week he was willing to sell for $250.00. The
next time he reduces I shall buy. At what price shall I purchase if he makes
a consistent reduction?"


  1. HORSES AND BULLOCKS


A dealer bought a number of horses at $344.00 each, and a number
of bullocks at $265.00 each. He then discovered that the horses had cost him
in all $33.00 more than the bullocks. Now, what is the smallest number
of each that he must have bought?

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