A maths brain teaser - thats driving us nuts

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mapleleaf

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Mrs mapleleaf has a friend who is taking an aptitude test tomorrow that involves answering a variety of questions - some multiple choice , some you have to work out and write out the answer and how you got there. We got hold of an example of the type of questions and this one has completely flummoxed us :dk:- even no1 uni graduate son.

There is a prize of a bunch of dancing bananas to the first person who can tell me how the heck you work out this one.... we do have the answer and still cant figure how its arrived at. Its probably staring us in the face but we cant see it. :mad:

Here goes:

"In printing an article of 48,000 words, a printer decides to use two sizes of type. Using the larger type, a printed page contains 1,800 words. Using smaller type, a page contains 2,400 words. The article is allotted 21 full pages in a magazine. How many pages must be in smaller type."

enjoy ! :)
 
"In printing an article of 48,000 words, a printer decides to use two sizes of type. Using the larger type, a printed page contains 1,800 words. Using smaller type, a page contains 2,400 words. The article is allotted 21 full pages in a magazine. How many pages must be in smaller type."

enjoy ! :)

Algebra is the proper way.

You turn it into equation where x is the number of pages in small type and then solve for x.

2400x + 1800(21-x) = 48000

Which becomes

2400x + (21 * 1800) -1800x = 48000

Which becomes

600x + 37800 = 48000

Which becomes

600x = 48000 - 37800

Which becomes

600x = 10200

Which resolves to

x = 17

So 17 pages in smaller type leaving 4 in larger type

17 * 2400 + 4 * 1800 = 48000
 
Problem Solved - congrats & thank you

Absolutely the right answer 17, well done and thanks for showing how you got there ! I'll have a proper look later when my head stops hurting

here are the narnas as promised ! :)

:bannana::bannana::bannana::bannana::bannana::bannana::bannana::bannana::bannana::bannana:
 
:) There are significantly trickier questions with a 60 to 90 seconds allocated time slots should you wish to join: Torr.org ...
 
Algebra is the proper way.

You turn it into equation where x is the number of pages in small type and then solve for x.

2400x + 1800(21-x) = 48000

Which becomes

2400x + (21 * 1800) -1800x = 48000

Which becomes

600x + 37800 = 48000

Which becomes

600x = 48000 - 37800

Which becomes

600x = 10200

Which resolves to

x = 17

So 17 pages in smaller type leaving 4 in larger type

17 * 2400 + 4 * 1800 = 48000

WHAT!!!!!!:dk::dk::dk::dk::dk:


Why the hell would you do this to yourself?????????? I never understood it at school so haven't a cat in hells chance now nearly 30 years later.:wallbash::wallbash::wallbash::D
 
Simplified;
Keep mulitplying the 2,400s until you reach the lowest amount of matching mulitples of 1,800.
 
Algebra is the proper way.

You turn it into equation where x is the number of pages in small type and then solve for x.

2400x + 1800(21-x) = 48000

Which becomes

2400x + (21 * 1800) -1800x = 48000

Which becomes

600x + 37800 = 48000

Which becomes

600x = 48000 - 37800

Which becomes

600x = 10200

Which resolves to

x = 17

So 17 pages in smaller type leaving 4 in larger type

17 * 2400 + 4 * 1800 = 48000
Exactly how I would have done it!!
 
Three men go into a cafe for a small meal.
Bill comes to £25 so they each chip in a tenner.

Out of the fiver change they give £2 as a tip and take a quid each, meaning that they paid £9 each.

So 3 x £9 = £27
plus £2 for the tip = £29

What happened to the other pound?
 
Last edited:
Three men go into a cafe for a small meal.
Bill comes to £25 so they each chip in a tenner.

Out of the fiver change they give £2 as a tip and take a quid each, meaning that they paid £9 each.

So 3 x £9 = £27
plus £2 for the tip = £29

What happened to the other pound?

You are forgetting the tip, if they left £2 and took a £1 back each the that is your £5 accounted for. The initial logic is flawed to say they paid £9 each.
 
The £27 included the £2 tip, so in reality the meal was £8.33 each and £0.66 for the tip making £9 each. Therefore no missing pound. Anyway tight *******s only leaving £2 between them.
 
Three men go into a cafe for a small meal.
Bill comes to £25 so they each chip in a tenner.

Out of the fiver change they give £2 as a tip and take a quid each, meaning that they paid £9 each.

So 3 x £9 = £27
plus £2 for the tip = £29

What happened to the other pound?

I think I can follow this one ! ..
£25 + £2 tip = £27
leaving £3 so a pound each in change means nothing missing or left over eeerr doesnt it ??? :dk: ( thanks Vorbis )
 
The £27 included the £2 tip, so in reality the meal was £8.33 each and £0.66 for the tip making £9 each. Therefore no missing pound. Anyway tight *******s only leaving £2 between them.

Since when did £8.33 and £0.66 equal £9? I make that £8.99. Are you a "creative" accountant? :D
 
Oh no the maths police got me:doh:

I did realise but as recurring numbers go on to infinity I thought you'd cut me some slack:wallbash:
 

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