MATH STINGER #79
by Dr. Joel C. Fowler
Associate Professor of Mathematics

 

For a new puzzle suppose that six people bring bread to a picnic. The first brings one loaf, the second brings two loaves, the third brings three loaves, the fourth brings four loaves, the fifth brings five loaves, and the sixth brings six loaves. They are unexpectedly joined by four other people who bring nothing. They decide to divide the loaves they have equally among all ten people. Once they are done each of the four visitors donates $3.15 to a "pot" to cover what they ate. The puzzle is to determine exactly how much each of the other people (who brought loaves) should put in or take out of the pot to keep the division fair.

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