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We’re setting you a little brainteaser each day this week to highlight a drive to improve the country’s numeracy skills.
3.00pm, 13 Oct 2014
22.9k
21
ENGAGE THOSE BRAINS, folks: we have a teasing question for you.
Each afternoon this week, we’ll be setting you a (not too) tough riddle to get the cogs whirring and test your mathematical mettle.
If this prospect fills you with either a. joy, or b. dread, the mathsweek.ie site is worth a look – with events for maths fans and for those who might feel the need to brush up on their numeracy skills. The events are running from now until Sunday.
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Monday’s puzzle:
A cash collection was made around a room with everyone putting a note into a bag. People put in either a €20, a €10 or a €5 note.
I asked the collector how much was in the collection and he told me that if I pulled out a note at random that there would be a 1 in 12 chance of getting a €20 note. He said there would be a 1 in 4 chance of getting a €10 note and a 2 in 3 chance of getting a €5.
I protested that I needed more information. He conceded that four people had put in €20 notes and he refused to tell me any more.
Can you figure out how much money was in the bag?
Poll Results:
€360 (3455)
€280 (835)
€325 (322)
€255 (292)
All answers will be revealed on Friday afternoon. You’ll see what other readers are thinking when you make your choice above and the pie chart shows the most popular option. (We’re not saying that the most popular will be the right one!)
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A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Was the collector a politician by any chance? He couldn’t give you a straight answer?
It’s like asking “how much of tax payers money is spent on x?” “Well,” said the Politician, “50% of it has a 1 in 12 chance of not going on what it needs to”
4 x €20 will give 1 in 12, – so there are 48 notes in the bag
12 x €10 will give 1 in 4, = 12 in 48 = €120
23 x €5 will give 2 in 3 = 32 in 48 = €160
plus the 4 x €10 = €80
Total = €360.
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