Yes, this would make your brain hurt, and for good reason. If we set the variables P,N,D,and Q as the number of each type of coin, and H as the number of degrees of separation between the hands of the watch at 4:10 (which would be 65), we can substitute to get 18P=64, which evaluates to a non-integer. Since we assume that Neston is not breaking currency regulations by carrying around portions of a penny, something else must be wrong.
My guess is that the creator of the problem, in taking into account the additional degrees moved by the little hand since 4:00 (5), erroneously subtracted this quantity instead of adding it. This would result in a wrong figure of 55 degrees, and 18P would equal 54, so that P can evaluate to 3, and thus we can see that Mom has reached the ripe old age of 120...which may explain why Neston needed to go so fast - perhaps he subconsciously knew his Momma's time might be short.
That's what you get for using your protractor while there are tears welling up in your eyes. |
