Number Puzzle #20- Breaking Bread -
Two friends, Solomon and Constantine, are about to have lunch in a small village when a stranger
approaches them. The stranger tells them that he has no food but would be happy to pay them if they
can share some of theirs. The two agree. Solomon has 5 loaves of bread and Constantine has 3. They
divide the bread equally among the three of them. After they finish the meal, the stranger puts 8
coins of equal value on the table in payment. How should the coins be divided so that each friend is
fairly compensated for the bread he shared?
HINT: Divide each loaf of bread into thirds.
ANSWER:
Solomon should take 7 coins and Constantine should take 1 coin.
EXPLANATION: If you divide the loaves into thirds, there were 24 pieces of bread in
total (Solomon had 15 pieces and Constantine had 9). The 24 pieces were divided equally which means each
of the men had 8 pieces. Therefore Solomon shared 7 pieces of bread with the stranger and Constantine
shared 1 piece. The proper way to divide the coins is that Solomon take 7 coins and Constantine take 1
coin.
Do you have a
suggestion for this puzzle (e.g. something that should
be mentioned/clarified in the question or solution, bug, typo, etc.)?
