Brain Teasers
Can I Borrow?
This is a teaser for people who know the US coins. My apologies to any out-of-country visitors.
You and a friend pass by a standard coin-operated vending machine and you decide to get a candy bar. The price is US$0.95, but after checking your pockets, you only have a dollar (US$1), and the machine only takes coins.
You turn to your friend and have this conversation.
You: Hey, do you have change for a dollar?
Friend: Let's see... I have 6 US coins but, although they add up to US$1.15, I can't break a dollar.
You: Huh? Can you make change for half a dollar?
Friend: No.
You: How about a quarter?
Friend: Nope. And before you ask I can't make change for a dime or nickel either.
You: Really? And these 6 coins are all US government coins currently in production?
Friend: Yes.
You: Well, can you just put your coins into the vending machine and buy me the candy bar, and I'll pay you back?
Friend: Sorry, I'd like to, but I can't with the coins I have.
What coins does your friend have?
You and a friend pass by a standard coin-operated vending machine and you decide to get a candy bar. The price is US$0.95, but after checking your pockets, you only have a dollar (US$1), and the machine only takes coins.
You turn to your friend and have this conversation.
You: Hey, do you have change for a dollar?
Friend: Let's see... I have 6 US coins but, although they add up to US$1.15, I can't break a dollar.
You: Huh? Can you make change for half a dollar?
Friend: No.
You: How about a quarter?
Friend: Nope. And before you ask I can't make change for a dime or nickel either.
You: Really? And these 6 coins are all US government coins currently in production?
Friend: Yes.
You: Well, can you just put your coins into the vending machine and buy me the candy bar, and I'll pay you back?
Friend: Sorry, I'd like to, but I can't with the coins I have.
What coins does your friend have?
Hint
As the Jeopardy theme song plays and time is passing...Answer
Your friend has 4 dimes, a quarter, and a 50 cent piece. They all add up to US$1.15 and he doesn't have change for a dollar, US$0.50, US$0.25, US$0.10, or US$0.05. Also, and here's the trick, he can't buy the candy bar for US$0.95 because a typical US vending machine doesn't take 50 cent coins -- only quarters and below.Hide Hint Show Hint Hide Answer Show Answer
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Comments
Another great one! You rock!!
I respect your apology to us non-US types, but why couldn't you list all the possible US coin types as part of the teaser? Admittedly, it's not hard to look up yourself, but it would seem a sensible thing to include.
nice teaser but one small problem they don't make 50 cent coins in the U.S anymore so you might wanna take out the part that says the coins are still in production because that interferes with peoples guessing
Nice one. Well thought out. Thanks Yes, the answer does depend on a knowledge of US coins, but nice job anyway. We don't often think of a half dollar coin in our change because while the US does mint them every year, they are rarely circulated.
keep up the good work
keep up the good work
Back in Aug 18, 2004, snippet posted essentially the same list as a comment to No Change for a Dollar. The only thing "new" is fixing the number of coins at six.
During my US visits, I couldnt find a 50 cents coin. Hence couldnt solve this problem. A nice teaser. However, it would have helped if the denominations of all US coins, had been mentioned, for the benefit of non-US members.
I saw $1.15 and 6 coins and no change for a dollar and didn't bother to read the rest to figure the answer. Hope I didn't miss anything interesting.
I DONT LIKE JEOPARDY! WHEEL OF FORTUNE IS SUPERIOR!
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