Here is the first (of many) sets of assorted problems. Some
are harder than others. All have answers.
I recently picked up a book called
536 Curious Problems & Puzzles, edited by the one and only
Martin Gardner. It's a set of reprints of problems by Henry Ernest
Dudeney, all originating from just after the turn of the century (if
you're reading this after January 1st, 2000, no, not this century).
In any case, if you like this sort of thing, you'd love the book.
Eventually, I'll probably have all of the problems here, posted
a page at a time.
CONCERNING A CHECK
A man went into a bank to cash a check. In handing over the
money the cashier, by mistake, gave him dollars for cents and
cents for dollars. He pocketed the money without examining it,
and spent a nickel on his way home. He then found that he
possessed exactly twice the amount of the check. He had no
money in his pocket before going to the bank. What was the
exact amount of that check?
DOLLARS AND CENTS
A man entered a store and spent one-half of the money that was
in his pocket. When he came out he found that he had just as
many cents as he had dollars when he went in and half as many
dollars as he had cents when he went in. How much money did he
have on him when he entered?
LOOSE CASH
What is the largest sum of money - all in current coins and
no silver dollars - that I could have in my pocket without
being able to give change for a dollar, half dollar, quarter,
dime, or nickel?
GENEROUS GIFTS
A generous man set aside a certain sum of money for equal
distribution weekly to the needy of his acquaintance. One day
he remarked, "If there are five fewer applicants next week, you
will each receive two dollars more." Unfortunately, instead of
there being fewer there were actually four more persons
applying for the gift.
"This means," he pointed out, "that you will each receive one
dollar less."
How much did each person receive at that last distribution?