Daily Mail Mindbender Mon 28 October

[Magsiksnys]

Answer 60 how?

@At Ians birthday party, a half minus eight of the guests are relatives, 13 are work colleagues, and a fifth plus nine are friends. if three gatecrashers also turned up, how many people were in attendance at Ians party?"

pardon my oap keyboard

TIA

[Romanski]

Total number 60

Guests 22 (30-8)

Colleagues 13

Friends 21 (12+9)

Gatecrashers 3

Ian 1

 

[Romanski]

Meant relatives, not guests.

[JJ109]

Let x = the number at the party

Relatives = 1/2x -8

Colleagues = 13

Friends = 1/5 x +9

Gatecrashers = 3

Ian = 1

Add together

x = 1/2x -8 +13 +1/5x + 9 + 3 +1

x = 5/10 x + 2/10x + 18

x = 7/10x + 18

3/10x = 18

1/10x = 6

x = 60

[bhg481]

The question is too badly worded to give an answer. If you include Ian at his own party to make up 60 then only 59 are guests and the sums don't work. It also doesn't state whether any of the friends/work colleagues are allowed to be relatives. There must be an even number of guests (to be able to halve it and get a whole number) and must be a multiple of 5 (for the same reason) hence there must be n x 10 guests. The number at the party must be n x 10 +3 +Ian, n depending how many relatives are also work colleagues etc.

[bhg481]

Changing "Guests" to "Attendees" at the beginning of the puzzle allows Romanski and JJ109 to be correct.