can anyone help with this puzzle set to my son at school

[genius55]

A, who now has �5 less than B had before C, gave B three times what B already had, will have half of a half of a half as much as B had after C made the gift to B, if C gives A �2.

How much has A now

[Dinkypuzzled]

a = �1

( c gave b �18)

[jan1956]

does not a half of a half of a half =an eighth?

I thought A = 7+2=9 B =14 given 42by C has 56 (14 - 5= 9) (7 x 8 =56)

done by simultaneous equations

[jan1956]

a+2 = b - 5

5+2 = b - a

a = 4b/8

8a = 4b

7 =b -a

8a = 4b

56 = 8b - 8a

56 = 8b - 4b

56 = 4b

14 = b

[genius55]

guys even with your answers this is way beyond me.

thanks so much he can now take in working tomorrow as he has been trying for ages.

[mohill]

This is a badly phrased question and it is possible to read it in two different ways, according to how you interpret the words used and the verb tenses.

Dinkpuzzled has read the first line to mean A has 5 less than B before any intervention at all by C. That is, at the very start, A has 5 less than B. It depends on what meaning you take from the word now. His calculation is then correct that A started with 1 and B with 6. But what is the meaning of the word now in the last line? Wouldn't that imply that C has intervened and A now has 3?

jan1956 has read the now in the first line to mean not at the beginning, but after C has given 2 to A.

Both readings seem legitimate to me. I think the compiler intended the second meaning, because there would be no other reason for using the word now in the first line. It would have been simpler to have written 'A had 5 less than B had ......

But, as I have always suspected, Matrhs teachers are just too smart for their own good.

Cheers

Mohill (an ex-Maths teacher)

[jan1956]

so mohill please tell me are you saying my answer was correct, genius55 when your son gets it marked please let us know if who was right, then i can sleep again!

[genius55]

i agree about the maths teachers molehill! thanx for your answer x

[mohill]

Hi jan1956.

I really could not answer the question in any definitive way but I think that whoever set this question probably intended it to be read the way you interpreted it. I follow your logic and your calculation is accurate (this is not being patronising) and if I were forced to give just one answer it would be yours. But .... if I were marking the question I could not in honesty say the other solution was incorrect. I can just repeat that it was a very badly worded question and I too would be pleased to see just what was considered to be correct.

I think that the teacher who came up with the question phrased it in this cumbersome way just to make it harder and I don't think he/she realised that it had at least two interpretations. My whole experience of Maths teachers is that too many of them get a bit precious about their subject and too many of them try to trick their students with what they think is a delightful little problem and they don't ever seem to realise that all they are doing is failing to positively reinforce their teaching and at the same time undermining their students' confidence.

But, at the age of nearly 80, what do I know??

Cheers!

[jan1956]

thanks mohill, I only passed maths at O level stage(many years ago) but used to enjoy algebra and simultaneous equations, but as you say we can only wait for the answer

cheers jan