Jan 18, 2003
RAY: This week's puzzler was sent in by a fellow named Peter Brigham. Of course, I had to embellish, obfuscate and unclarify it -- not to mention add the necessary folkloric and historic elements. Here it is:
A young fellow goes into a convenience store to buy a couple of things. He buys a package of razor blades, shaving cream, a bottle of cheap aftershave lotion and a candy bar. The clerk rings up his total and it comes out to $13.59.
The fellow opens his wallet. He's got a buck. He says, "Oh man...oh, wait a minute. I have an emergency $50 tucked in my wallet." He takes it out. He hands the fellow the fifty-dollar bill. The cashier gives him his change, and as he does so, the cashier says," That's interesting!"
The customer says, "Geez, it is!"
So, what's so darn interesting?
TOM: I remember my first reaction was that the change that he got was some permutation of thirteen fifty-nine, which is what he spent.
RAY: No. It was the change. And what's interesting is he gets a 20, a 10, a five, a one, a quarter, a dime, a nickel and a penny. There are eight little things in the cash register. He gets from each.
TOM: Yeah. One of everything.
RAY: One of everything. Get out. Who's our winner?
TOM: Jeez, that's good. The winner is Heather Jones from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
