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Today Puzzle #771

Puzzle No. 771– Monday 29 June

On holiday Pat says she’ll go and get snacks for nine friends and herself. At the beach shop a soft drink costs €1, ice creams are €2 and a beer is €3. If each person chooses only one item and Pat spends exactly €20, how many ways could the group select their snacks?

Today’s #PuzzleForToday has been set by Dr Steve Humble, Newcastle University

Click here for the answer

There are six different possible selections of snacks.

Details of a possible solution.

S + 2C + 3B = 20 – (1)

S+ C + B = 10 – (2)

Subtracting (2) from (1) gives C + 2B = 10

Re-write this equation as

C = 10 – 2B

Beer (B) Ice Cream (C) Soft drink (S)

0 10 0

1 8 1

2 6 2

3 4 3

4 2 4

5 0 5

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