Need help with a riddle/word puzzle?

papa

New member
A lost and hungry vagabond happened upon a pair of travelers one of whom had three loaves of bread while the other had five. All of the loaves were the same size and weight.

The two travelers decided to share their bread with the vagabond, and that the eight loaves should be shared equally among the three of them. When they had finished, the vagabond reached into his pocket and pulled out eight coins. He handed three coins to the traveler who had had the three loaves and five to the other one and disappeared into the inky shadows.

The next morning, right after no breakfast, the one who had received the three coins said to the other one, 'I don't think he should have given three coins to me and five to you. It's not fair.' And he was right. How should the coins have been split up?
 
Total bread = 8 loaves.
Divided by 3 = 8/3 = 2 2/3 loaves each.
Taken by vagabond from the three loaved traveler = 3 - 8/3 = 1/3 loaves
Taken by vagabond from the five loaved traveler = 5 - 8/3 = 7/3 loaves
Therefore the coins should have been split up
1 coin to the traveler with three loaves
7 coins to the traveler with five loaves
 
Break each loaf into 6 pieces x 8 loaves = 48 pieces.
Divide the 48 pieces between the 3 men = 16 pieces each.

My guess is the 2 men should have received 4 coins each.......probably completely wrong coz I'm never very good at these sorts of riddles lol
 
This isn't a riddle. There is a mathematical explanation for it.

Let's see if I can remember it.


First, we notice that each person ate 8/3 = 2 2/3 loaves.

Thus, the one with 5 loaves initially gave 2 1/3 loaves to the vagabond.

The one with 3 loaves initially gave only 1/3 of a loaf to the vagabond.


Therefore, of the 2 2/3 loaves the vagabond ate,

1/3 / 2 2/3 = 1/8 came from the man with 3 loaves and

2 1/3 / 2 2/3 = 7/8 came from the man with 5 loaves.


Thus, the vagabond should have given the 3 loaves man only 1 coin and the 5 loaves man 7 coins to accurately reflect where he got his bread from.

Hope this helps.
 
This isn't a riddle. There is a mathematical explanation for it.

Let's see if I can remember it.


First, we notice that each person ate 8/3 = 2 2/3 loaves.

Thus, the one with 5 loaves initially gave 2 1/3 loaves to the vagabond.

The one with 3 loaves initially gave only 1/3 of a loaf to the vagabond.


Therefore, of the 2 2/3 loaves the vagabond ate,

1/3 / 2 2/3 = 1/8 came from the man with 3 loaves and

2 1/3 / 2 2/3 = 7/8 came from the man with 5 loaves.


Thus, the vagabond should have given the 3 loaves man only 1 coin and the 5 loaves man 7 coins to accurately reflect where he got his bread from.

Hope this helps.
 
This isn't a riddle. There is a mathematical explanation for it.

Let's see if I can remember it.


First, we notice that each person ate 8/3 = 2 2/3 loaves.

Thus, the one with 5 loaves initially gave 2 1/3 loaves to the vagabond.

The one with 3 loaves initially gave only 1/3 of a loaf to the vagabond.


Therefore, of the 2 2/3 loaves the vagabond ate,

1/3 / 2 2/3 = 1/8 came from the man with 3 loaves and

2 1/3 / 2 2/3 = 7/8 came from the man with 5 loaves.


Thus, the vagabond should have given the 3 loaves man only 1 coin and the 5 loaves man 7 coins to accurately reflect where he got his bread from.

Hope this helps.
 
This isn't a riddle. There is a mathematical explanation for it.

Let's see if I can remember it.


First, we notice that each person ate 8/3 = 2 2/3 loaves.

Thus, the one with 5 loaves initially gave 2 1/3 loaves to the vagabond.

The one with 3 loaves initially gave only 1/3 of a loaf to the vagabond.


Therefore, of the 2 2/3 loaves the vagabond ate,

1/3 / 2 2/3 = 1/8 came from the man with 3 loaves and

2 1/3 / 2 2/3 = 7/8 came from the man with 5 loaves.


Thus, the vagabond should have given the 3 loaves man only 1 coin and the 5 loaves man 7 coins to accurately reflect where he got his bread from.

Hope this helps.
 
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