PAINTING THE LAMP-POSTS.
(
Money Puzzles)
Tim Murphy and Pat Donovan were engaged by the local authorities to
paint the lamp-posts in a certain street. Tim, who was an early riser,
arrived first on the job, and had painted three on the south side when
Pat turned up and pointed out that Tim's contract was for the north
side. So Tim started afresh on the north side and Pat continued on the
south. When Pat had finished his side he went across the street and
painted six posts for Tim, and then the job was finished. As there was
an equal number of lamp-posts on each side of the street, the simple
question is: Which man painted the more lamp-posts, and just how many
more?
Answer:
Pat must have painted six more posts than Tim, no matter how many
lamp-posts there were. For example, suppose twelve on each side; then
Pat painted fifteen and Tim nine. If a hundred on each side, Pat painted
one hundred and three, and Tim only ninety-seven
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