24.--A SHOPPING PERPLEXITY.

Two ladies went into a shop where, through some curious eccentricity, no

change was given, and made purchases amounting together to less than

five shillings. "Do you know," said one lady, "I find I shall require no

fewer than six current coins of the realm to pay for what I have

bought." The other lady considered a moment, and then exclaimed: "By a

peculiar coincidence, I am exactly in the same dilemma." "Then we will

pay the two bills together." But, to their astonishment, they still

required six coins. What is the smallest possible amount of their

purchases--both different?

Amusements in Mathematics · 第 33 / 970 题