The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-10-07
PRIZE PROBLEM
SWANPS EDITOR
THE FIRST DAY
The Mail Brings in Many
GuesseS in the New
Contest

Answers to the coin problem pub
lished in The Sunday Times swamped
the Problem Editor this morning. Al
though the problem is a knotty one.
muny answers were brought to The
Sunday Times office yesterday morning
a few hours after the paper had reach
ed Washington homes
A prize OF s. Is offered for the best
solution TO the following problem:
A man having ten coins found he
was unable 10 change a single piece
OF money.
After borrowing three silver coins.
he changed a certain coin, returned
three silver coins TO the man from
whom ne had borrowed. and then
had three coins Of the same denOn-
ination left.
What coins did ne have at first;
what coins did he borrow; whaI did
he change; what cCins did he return;
and what did he have left?
All coins were in common circula-
ton.
Obsolete Coins Barred.
In this problem, as well as the other
coin problem published by The Sunday
Times, obsolete coins, such as and g.
cent pieces, 5-cent "shinplasters,'' %
cent pieces. and 81 and 50 gold pieces are
barred: likewise English sovereigns and
other foreign currency
Contestants must bear IN mind that
neither the ten coins put together, nor
any combination OF them would change
any piece OF American currency.
A hundred or more answers were re-
ceived this morning and yesterday, list
Ing coins which could be added with
others enumerated In the list, and
! change larger coin or bill
Many contestants said the man had
fCur 81 bills or silver pieces. They would
Z CnanEH fharafrr-a fl,.a
CnsWers are incorrect. Others included
/ two 81 coins and two Scent pieces.
! 5O-cent piece, or $3.50 gold piece.
The man had six dimes, three silver
dollars. and $ gold piece. wrote
contestant. Five Of the dimes would
three dollars would change a s. bin.
Two. OF the dollars and five OF the dimes
would change a $50 gold piece.
Ten pennies was the answer Of sew
eral. Five Of the pennies would change
! nickel. The man had ten dimes.
was part OF the answer OF a large num-
Der Of contestants. He did not. FOR then
ne would have been able to change q
50-cent piece and 81 bill or silver
Notwithstanding the statement in the
problem that all the coins were in com
mon circulation. and cent pieces, Is
| cent paper money certificates. 2O-cent
pieces, 81 and s. gold pieces were used
by many contestants.
Faulty Answer.
He had nine 1O-cent pieces and l
cent, or a total OF 81 cents" wrote a
young man living on street. He Dor
rowed three Scent pieces. He changed
silver dollar. He returned the three
Scent pieces and had 81 cents left.
Knowing this is correct. because IL is
so simple, I remain"
Notwithstanding the confidence OF the
writer. tnis was about the most faulty
answer that was received. Five of the
Decent pieces would have changed half
a dollar Three cent pieces are obsolete.
II the man had exchanged his 81 cents
and the 8 cents spoken Of by the con-
testant for a silver dollar. he would
have nad a silver dollar only, and could
not have returned three Scent pieces or
any other change to the man from
whom he borrowed Even II he did have
OF cents left that amount was not made
up Of three coins Of the same denomi-
~