Mental Nuts-- Can You Crack 'em?

[Sundae]

Out of the mouth of babes and fools....

[BigV]

A passenger on a trolley tendered a $1 bill in payment for his 5c. fare. The conductor said "I cannot make the change for a $1, but I can for a $5 bill." What money had he?

At first glance, I see this as a problem of how to make $4.95 change and not be able to make $0.95 change.

Some assumptions I make:

This transaction is being conducted (ha) in US money.

I am disregarding the idea that the "change being made" would be in some weird scrip from the trolley line, counting out a book of tickets equal to $4.95 for example. I don't count this as "money he had".

I'm assuming the passenger is only paying 5 cents for his ride. And that he does ride and he does pay and he does get change.

Hm, that's a lot of assumptions. Maybe the passenger says, "Ok, here's a nickel." But that doesn't answer the question "what money had he?". It makes the problem silly.

a passenger on a trolley (he has to pay). offers a $1, expecting 95c. change. conductor can't make 95c change. I hope this isn't part of the "trick". this sounds really plain. The conductor says he can make $4.95 change.... does he? he says he can make change for a $5 bill tendered for a 5c fare. Am I making an unfair assumption? I am not being literal in the recounting of the parameters, but that's where the cleverness of the puzzles hides...

It's a good puzzle.

[BigV]

to my mind, discontinued in the wiki article means no longer minted. not out of circulation.

Now I sound snippy. I'm not, I'm just wrestling with this one.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

I know what you mean and what V means, and I have mosquitoes in my basement still but that doesn't make it summer.

Originally Posted by BigV

Now I sound snippy. I'm not, I'm just wrestling with this one.

I didn't mean to challenge the answer - it's a good question that needs thinking. V is thinking, I was rambling.

I call Uncle, but I'm impatient.
I'd expect you to ask for a quorum of at least five (shillings).

[Rhianne]

Could the answer involve the phrase "I cannot make the change"?

The passenger is attempting to exchange Canadian Dollars for US ones - the fee for which is more than $1?

[Rhianne]

If so, then the answer to the actual question asked would be: Canadian money.

[footfootfoot]

Answer here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_eagle

The quarter eagle denomination was officially discontinued in 1933 with the removal of the United States from the Gold Standard, although the last date of issue was 1929.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Answer here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_eagle

ORLY?

Show your work, please.

eta:

Meaning he has coins only to change $5 bills and multiples thereof? Ok, I see that. But that's not really the plain meaning of making change for a dollar (or five dollars) when tendered for a fare. If I've dramatically missed the emphasis, tell me. Was the question, what can make change for 5s and not 1s?

[ZenGum]

So, the Quarter Eagle is $2.50, meaning the conductor must still produce $2.45. Two $1 bills, four dimes and a nickle, and being a ratshit conductor that is all he has.

[Rhianne]

That looks good to me ZG.

[BigV]

I agree, tha's change for $5, and not for $1. So is my answer, too.

[footfootfoot]

I'm calling that last nut unsolved. And V, I'll tell you the same thing I told my students: If you put half the effort into finding the correct answer that you put into defending your incorrect answer you'd be at the top of the class.

Technically, perhaps correct, but Occam's Razor says "BZZZZZZ! Thank you for playing."

Here are 5 and 6 since I was out deer hunting all day yesterday. (No)

[BigV]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

I'm calling that last nut unsolved. And V, I'll tell you the same thing I told my students: If you put half the effort into finding the correct answer that you put into defending your incorrect answer you'd be at the top of the class.

Technically, perhaps correct, but Occam's Razor says "BZZZZZZ! Thank you for playing."

Here are 5 and 6 since I was out deer hunting all day yesterday. (No)

DOMFCOTL,ISN.

[HungLikeJesus]

If the answers to number 5 all have to be whole numbers, then:
Dad = 35
Ma = 30
Bro. = 8
Me = 10

If fractional ages can be included (and why couldn't they?), then dad can be anywhere between about 31.5 and 38.5.

[HungLikeJesus]

The answer to number 6 depends on whether B gets his first increase after 6 months or after 1 year.