"A Tradesman in a Difficulty"

“A Tradesman in a Difficulty”

A puzzle by Angelo Lewis, writing as “Professor Hoffman” in 1893:

A man went into a shop in New York and purchased goods to the amount of 34 cents. When he came to pay, he found that he had only a dollar, a three-cent piece, and a two-cent piece. The tradesman had only a half- and a quarter-dollar. A third man, who chanced to be in the shop, was asked if he could assist, but he proved to have only two dimes, a five-cent piece, a two-cent piece, and a one-cent piece. With this assistance, however, the shopkeeper managed to give change. How did he do it?

	Select Click for Answer
1. The purchaser gives his one-dollar and his two-cent piece to the tradesman and his three-cent piece to the stranger. 2. The tradesman gives his half-dollar to the purchaser and his quarter-dollar to the stranger. 3. The stranger gives his two dimes and his one-cent piece to the purchaser and his five-cent piece and his two-cent piece to the tradesman. “Each has therefore received the precise amount to which he was entitled.”

Click for Answer

June 11, 2012February 4, 2013 | Puzzles