Puzzle of the Week #7

Solvers of last week’s puzzle (in order):    
      1. David Hla
      2. Katie Ambrose
      3. Ashley Fujiyama
      4. Mr. Rick DuPuy




Answer to and commentary on Puzzle #6:
    Classification: Easy. While there were several ways to solve this problem, I like to view it as a simple accounting error. All in all, net payments must equal net receipts. Jerome et al. pay 15 seeds, with a 3 seed rebate. Hence, net payments are 12 seeds. The store vault receives 10 seeds (15 seed payment minus the intended 5 seed rebate). Basil, an employee of the store, receives 2 seeds. Net payments are therefore equal to net receipts, and there is no missing seed. Basil’s error was in double-counting two of the seeds; in adding 12 to 2, he neglects the fact that the 12 seed payment already includes the 2 seeds pilfered by Basil.





Puzzle #7
Nolan Musslewhite (nmusslewhite@stalbansschool.org)