THRIFTY CLERKS.

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 31

THRIFTY CLERKS.

If the reader were asked to say off- - hand which would be the more profitable to accept of the following two offers, viz., a yearly, increase to his earnings of ten pounds, or a rise of'two pounds ten shillings every half-year, he would possibly say that the former would bring in more money if \he earnings were the same at the commencement. This question arose in the problem of the "two typistes," but here is one involving a somewhat different calculation. "A" and "B" start at the same salary of fifty pounds a year payable half-yearly, the former getting an annual "rise" of ' ten pounds, and the- latter a "rise" of two pounds ten• shillings half-yearly. "A" put regularly into the bank a certain proportion of his earnings, while the proportion: of salary that "B" saved •was.twice as great as "A's," and at the end of five years they had saved between them two hundred and sixty-eight pounds fifteen shillings. As no interest was included in that sum, how much had each saved? This question requires^to be read carefully and noted that it does not say that *'B" saved twice as much as "A," as in that case the problem would hardly be an "intellect sharpener." CONCERNING AGES. Formulating • problems concerning ages is not the easiest of tasks for a column like this, which endeavours to keep clear' of questions involving .complicated calculations, for with this class of problem it is quite an easy .matter to state one not capable of solution by ordinary arithmetical processes. Here are two, however, that are entitled to. be included, though they may be found not quite as simple as they look.. (1) Bill's age is represented by the same figures as his sister's age, but reversed, the difference between them being exactly three-fourths of the sister's age and three-sevenths of Bill's years. What are their ages? (2) A little girl of nine years of age inquired of her mother when she was to go to boarding-school, and was told as soon as her age was exactly onethird that of the parent. "What would be the girl's age, then, if at the time the question was asked, the mother, was three times:-older than- the daughter! Note that "one-third" and "three times" are not mis-stated. TWO CYCLISTS. Two cyclists travelling in opposite directions and meeting at an accommodation house, found that their routes next day, though different, would bring them back to the same spot that night. They both started after ,an early breakfast, "X" travelling seven and a half miles due east, to a cheese factory, thence more or less south easterly to a sawmill, the latter stage being more than the distance from the house to the factory. 3?rom tho sawmill he rode due west for twelve and a quarter miles to a farmhouse, passing en route a roadman's camp situated Dearer the.farmhouse than the sawmill. From that point he travelled direct to the accommodation house where he found that the other cyclist had already, arrived. The latter had ridden direct from the house to the roadman's camp, but meeting with *an accident to his machine he walked back by the same route. If upon comparing notes they found that the routes followed by "X" embraced an area cf one hundred and fifty-two square miles and forty-eight acres, how far «lid. the ' other cyclist ride from the kouse.to the camp and back? AN INTERESTING SPRINT. A youngster making off from an orchard gate with his pockets full of apples had gone exactly eigthy-ono of his own steps when the- gardener started from the gate in pursuit. It seemed a long start, but the lad was caught at exactly seventy-five yards from the gate. Now here is an interesting question on the point. If the boy made eight paces to the man's five, two of the latter's strides being equal to five of the boy's, can the reader say what was the length of tho fugitive's steps assuming, of course, that they were ■uniform throughout? THREE INVESTMENTS. An investor bought a total of five .hundred shares in three different enterprises, the script consisting of "Afforestation" (A), "Breweries" (B), and "Coals" (C), the average cost per share of the three parcels being ten pounds. He gave five times as much tper share for "Breweries" as he did for "Forests," the whole parcel of "Coals" costing as much as only four "Breweries" shares. The investor put one quarter as much money into "Forests" as he speculated in "Coals," and assuming that 4 per cent, of the gross investment was put into the latter security, what number of shares was purchased in each and what was tho price per share. The reader will no doubt see in this problem, more data than is required to solve it, but these, he will also perhaps observe, have been added with a purpose. LAST WEEK'S SOLUTIONS. Selling a Radio Set.—The shopkeeper gained an extra sum of eight shillings and fourpenee by accepting the two bills. _at six and twelve months ealh instead of the first offer of one bill at twelve months for a similar sum. Showing Different Times.—The house clock must have beou five minutes fast. . • Tom, Dick, and Harry.—Dick's age at the "time of the incident was 29 years and two months, so that twentythree years afterwards their combined ages would be 140 years, or double • what they were when Harry's age was 5 years and 10 months, and Dick's as stated. Less than £50.—The amount is £26 5s 9d, which, if multiplied by 7, will give a product of £184 0s 3d, all digits and cipher being represented. . Butter and Cheese.—Half a hundredweight more would have beon received if tho money had been spent equally, the respective weights being lO^cwt and 14cwt, instead of two of 12cwt each. '