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Thread: The answer's not obvious

  1. #1
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    Question The answer's not obvious

    Q: A numismatist decides to divide his coin collection between his children.

    The oldest gets 1/2 of the collection, the next gets 1/4, the next gets 1/5,

    and the youngest gets the remaining 49 coins.

    The answer is not 980....


  2. #2
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    I think it can't have any other answer other than 980..


  3. #3
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    Definitely 980 satisfies all the conditions except "The answer is not 980".

    According to me, 980 is THE answer.

    -kalayama

    [COLOR="Blue"][SIZE="2"]"If you are not living on the edge of your life, you are wasting space"[/SIZE][/COLOR]

    Someone says "Impossible is nothing". The man next him says "Let me see you licking your elbow tip!"

  4. #4
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    answer is 1120...
    Deepak Sharma
    email:
    deepak.btg@gmail.com


  5. #5
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    The first one gets half of collection, 1120/2 = 560
    The second gets 1/4 of total collection, 1120/4 = 280
    The third gets 1/5 of total collection, 1120/5 = 224

    So the last one gets 1120-280-560-224 = 56 and that is WRONG. The last one should get 49.

    -Kalayama

    [COLOR="Blue"][SIZE="2"]"If you are not living on the edge of your life, you are wasting space"[/SIZE][/COLOR]

    Someone says "Impossible is nothing". The man next him says "Let me see you licking your elbow tip!"

  6. #6
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    The only answer could be 980.

    Lack of WILL POWER has caused more failure than
    lack of INTELLIGENCE or ABILITY.

    -sutnarcha-

  7. #7
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    Nope its not....even i am stuck...Can it be zilch since there is nothing left to his collection...but have tried that too...its not correct..
    Please think out of the box guys and help me out....


  8. #8
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    Even I got the answer as 980.Nothing more I could figure out!!!!


  9. #9
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    The answer may be 140...

    1st Step : 1/2 of the coins (140/2=70). Remaining coin 140-70=70
    2nd Step : 1/4 of the current coins i.e., 1/8 of the total coin (140/8=17.5). Remaining coin 70-17.5=52.5
    3rd Step : 1/5 of the current coin i.e., 1/40 of the total coin (140/40=3.5)
    Remaining coin 52.5-3.5=49
    4th Step : Total coin for last son is 49.

    So i think 140 may also be the answer.


  10. #10
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    No manoj.....Your answer is wrong...

    The question is mentioned 1/2,1/4,1/5 of all the coins...Not a remaining coins..
    This is the first think...

    Ok...We assume it calculate using remaining coins...Your answer is 140.

    1/2 of 140 is 70. Remaining 70
    1/4 of 70 is 17.5. Remaining 52.5
    1/5 of 52.5 is 10.5. Remaining 42.

    So.....Your answer is wrong.....

    ------------------
    suresh


  11. #11
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    Manoj, You got to be kidding!!!! How can you devide a coin - a valuable collector's edition coin- into two parts???? Tear it apart????
    2nd Step : 1/4 of the current coins i.e., 1/8 of the total coin (140/8=17.5). Remaining coin 70-17.5=52.5
    Sounds ridiculous to me.

    Must confess it is quite an odd way of solving the problem. Definitely out of the box solution. A new dimension of thinking.

    But, there is a very thin line of difference between being Unique and Being Odd. As far as my Vote goes, this solution seems Odd.

    Manoj, I just wrote this post in a lighter sense. No offence intended to you. It was indeed a new way of looking at the problem.

    It was really a good effort from you Manoj, which is more you might as well have been right! Happy posting!

    Cheers!
    Kalayama

    [COLOR="Blue"][SIZE="2"]"If you are not living on the edge of your life, you are wasting space"[/SIZE][/COLOR]

    Someone says "Impossible is nothing". The man next him says "Let me see you licking your elbow tip!"

  12. #12
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    Sorry guys, the is 980 only...
    it was my friend who made the mistake..


  13. #13
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    Re: The answer's not obvious

    thanks friend.It was really a brainteaser.lol.

    Regards,
    Brijesh Jain
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    Connect with me on Skype: jainbrijesh
    Google Plus : jainbrijeshji

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