The annoying potion merchant -- math puzzle

Reply #5

Geodesic — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 06:45:08 GMT

Thank you for explaining the answer in a way that makes sense to me.

Reply #4

cottoneyedjoe — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 02:48:21 GMT

That's right, and good explanation with the chart.

Reply #3

db101 — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 17:28:17 GMT

The total cost is 30. I got this by first finding all the sets of three numbers that have a product of 840. Then I sorted them by max-min, which I call the spread. Then I added a column for the sum. When the witch says she cant tell what the individual prices are based on the product and the spread, then the spread must be 8, 17, 19, or 26, because only those spreads have more than one price set. When she says that she knows the sum, the spread must be 8, because that is the only spread with mor... [ More ]

Reply #2

cottoneyedjoe — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 23:52:13 GMT

It's more of a tricky logic puzzle than a math problem. The level of math needed is only arithmetic, but giving the shop number pretty much gives away the answer. -- That statement is even a small hint.

Reply #1

Geodesic — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 20:21:34 GMT

cottoneyedjoe,

Care to give us poor math challenged people the shop number

The annoying potion merchant -- math puzzle

cottoneyedjoe — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 16:27:21 GMT

A witch went to a potion shop to buy three bottles of ingredients for a magical potion. As the three bottles didn't have prices, the witch asked the shopkeeper how much each one cost. The shopkeeper said, The prices are in whole dollars and the product of the three prices is 840.

The witch rolled her eyes. That's not enough information. I'm a witch, not a psychic!

The shopkeeper said, Okay. The biggest bottle is the most expensive bottle and the smallest is the least expensive, and the... [ More ]