Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/140 - A Curious Progression
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Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $140$
- A Curious Progression
- A correspondent sent this:
- "An arithmetical progression is $10, 20, 30, 40, 50$, the five terms of which sum is $150$.
- Find another progression of five terms, without fractions, which sum to $153$."
- We noted at once the wily omission of a word in the last sentence,
- because such an arithmetical progression is not possible.
- We therefore suggested, by way of jest, this queer solution:
- a progression of $5$ [then] current silver coins: $3 \oldpence$, $1 \shillings$, $2 \shillings$, $2 \shillings 6 \oldpence$, $4 \shillings$, $5 \shillings$,
- which sum to $153$ pence.
- But this is not his own answer, which is quite satisfying -- no algebraic complexities.
- What is it?
Click here for solution
Sources
- 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Arithmetical and Algebraical Problems: Various Arithmetical and Algebraical Problems: $140$. -- A Curious Progression