Riddle me this, riddle me that

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25594

OK, I just saw someone asking for help on this riddle somewhere else on t'internet (there ARE other places on the net, people, I have seen them!) and I thought I'd throw it open to the brains here. Ok, here goes:

Quote:

There once was a man with 7 stencils. He had recently purchased the stencils from a drug dealer named Albus. When the man asked Albus how much the stencils were, Albus replied, "All the money you have." The man was quite confused, for he happened to be carrying quite a large sum of money at the time. So the man said, "For 1 stencil, I'll give you 1/32 of all my money. But for 2 stencils, I shall give you 1/64 of my money. For 3 stencils, I shall give you 1/128 of my money."

The pattern continues, doubling the denominator for every stencil added. The man gave Albus a simple choice. He said, "Albus, you decide how many I buy." Now it would seem that Albus should just say only one since it would seem like he would be getting the most money for less stencils. However, Albus responded, "By GOD! Take them all!!!" Shortly there after, Albus was seen running down the street yelling, "I'M RICH! I'M RICH!" And indeed he was.

Why would Albus respond like this?

HINT: It has to do with Albus's occupation

Any ideas? I must say now that I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER, so please don't all be dissapointed if no-one can work it out and you all turn to me and ask what it was to be met with my blank stare :smug:

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

Um, is it not as simple as "he sells drugs"?

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25594

I can't see how that relates to why he feels rich at selling his stencils for a smaller sum the more he sells, though.

ElephantBanjoGnome · **Joined:** 22nd Dec, 2010 **Posts:** 8175

I think I have the answer, let me just work it out though.

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25594

Ooh, I hope so, I keep staring at it but no flash of inspiration :bulb:

ElephantBanjoGnome · **Joined:** 22nd Dec, 2010 **Posts:** 8175

Yes, here we go.

Ok, the progression for each stencil is as follows:

1/32, 1/64, 1/128, 1/256, 1/512, 1/1024, 1/2048.

The key thing to consider is 'Cost per stencil'. How do you consider the cost per stencil? You take the number of stencils and divide it by the proportion of the man's money.

Meaning, if 1 stencil cost him 1/32 of his money, that's 1/(1/32) which is 32.

For 7 stenciles, this calculation is 7/(1/2048) = 14366.

Now, I'm not sure if my reasoning behind the mathematics is correct there, but I think that's the basic gist. It's the only thing I can think of where smaller fractions mean bigger numbers overall. A small whole number divided by a very small fraction equals a big number

Curiosity · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 11:11

ComicalGnomes wrote:

Yes, here we go.

Ok, the progression for each stencil is as follows:

1/32, 1/64, 1/128, 1/256, 1/512, 1/1024, 1/2048.

The key thing to consider is 'Cost per stencil'. How do you consider the cost per stencil? You take the number of stencils and divide it by the proportion of the man's money.

Meaning, if 1 stencil cost him 1/32 of his money, that's 1/(1/32) which is 32.

For 7 stenciles, this calculation is 7/(1/2048) = 14366.

Now, I'm not sure if my reasoning behind the mathematics is correct there, but I think that's the basic gist. It's the only thing I can think of where smaller fractions mean bigger numbers overall. A small whole number divided by a very small fraction equals a big number

That does not seem correct to my mind.

devilman · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 11:12

Mimi wrote:

Ooh, I hope so, I keep staring at it but no flash of inspiration :bulb:

Found on google - the comments have various answers including one from the original poster.

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

Mimi wrote:

I can't see how that relates to why he feels rich at selling his stencils for a smaller sum the more he sells, though.

They're not related, he just wants rid of them.

It's says he was seen shortly afterwards, no doubt after selling a large quantity of drugs.

I don't think com's maths works at all.

MrD · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2139

As it's written, Com's wrong. He's buying 7 for 1/2048 of all his money. (In the absence of any silly wordplay.)

I'm guessing the answer might be a bit more involved than "Albus doesn't want them, and 1/2048 is a lot of money." though.

But then again, maybe not.

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25594

Oh, that's beyond me at the moment - I have read it through and jumbled it about in my head but ow I am just becoming number blind. i'll leave it half an hour and then come back to it.

I was trying to work out why the 'it's to do with his occupation' came into it. I could only think that when dealers deal weed they have the same pattern of empirical division (so 1oz, a half oz, quarter, eighth, etc) but rarely so small as the 'kiddie bags' of 1/16th and then, of course, down to 1/2048th would be an impossible amount.

Hmmm, I tried googling and could only fine someone suggesting that his words 'take them all' meant that he was techically selling none, and so none, being less than one meant that, somehow, the man was to give him more money, but, hmmmmm...

Curiosity · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 11:17

The link appears to show that the 'riddle' is just a pile of poop.

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

Or maybe you should take a look at devilman's link?

ElephantBanjoGnome · **Joined:** 22nd Dec, 2010 **Posts:** 8175

Like I said, it's the only permutation of maths I can think of where a smaller fraction ends up with a larger number. The interim logic is a bit... squiffy.

MrD · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2139

If somebody said 'Take them all' meaning I could have them without a sale taking place, I don't think I'd be giving them any money.

devilman · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 11:18

Zio wrote:

Or maybe you should take a look at devilman's link?

Phew.. thought I was invisible then for a minute.

MrD · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2139

Albus is going to make a killing when the man comes back and asks if he has a Spirograph as well.

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

I think it's interesting how in both this thread and the one in your link, people keep on posting answers anyway. I'm wondering what that says about the human mind and our ability to see patterns in just about anything?

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25594

Oh, that's the link that I googled, Devilman, and the answer I quoted above was from there, but not where I actually got the problem from.

I couldn't find a really satisfactory answer there, though - the poster doesn't seem to know the answer, much like myself.

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25594

Yes, but what do you see to be 'the answer', though, Zio?

I don't think that answer I mentioned is correct.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 11:21

Albus means 'white' in latin.

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

The original poster saud that there wasn't one - he made the 'riddle' up on the spot. It's just meaningless nonsense.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 11:23

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25594

Oh, bleh. I didn't see that post.

Worst riddle ever.

MrD · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2139

I have a bullet-proof answer!

Because he was rich, as stated.

Why did he announce it? He clearly went to the Seto Kaiba school of being rich.

Smell you geeks later.

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

Mimi wrote:

Oh, bleh. I didn't see that post.

Worst riddle ever.

Yes, and further proof as if it were needed that the US military is staffed by arseholes.

MrD · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2139

Zio wrote:

Mimi wrote:

Oh, bleh. I didn't see that post.

Worst riddle ever.

Yes, and further proof as if it were needed that the US military is staffed by arseholes.

Yeeeeeeeeaaahhhhh................

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25594

Actually, someone suggested a plausible answer even if it was made up to have no answer.

The stencils are to make a forger of some kind - lets say £5o notes. Only by possessing all of the stencils can the man make successful forgeries, so Albus sells them at a cheaper price, knowing this.

In the question it does say (whatever fraction) of ALL OF YOUR MONEY - not the money he has with him at that moment in time. Only with all of the stencils can he make successful forgeries, so Albus can claim a tiny fraction of all the profit that the man will be making with these stencils. With less than the full set, though, the forgeries wouldn't be believable and so no profit at all would be made, and a small cut of a lot of money is worth more than a large cut of no money.

Also: Raven and writing desk - Alice in Wonderland, is it? My old geography teacher once put forward the answer that 'Poe used both to write on', or something, which is clumsily worded, but quite funny.

kalmar · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 11:35

Mimi, any more riddles and I'm going to take your internet off you.

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25594

Sorry, guys

I saw it posted elsewhere - didn't realise it was all nonsense :munkeh:

MrD · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2139

kalmar wrote:

Mimi, any more riddles and I'm going to take your internet off you again.

ftfy

Kalmar's the Demon Headmaster; such things are within his power. That's why he doesn't want you do to pose any other riddles: "Curiosity is the curse of the human brain."

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 11:41

MrD wrote:

"Curiosity is the curse of the human race."

FTFY

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25594

MaliA wrote:

MrD wrote:

"Curiosity is the curse of the human race."

FTFY

Poor guy

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 11:50

kalmar · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 11:54

MrD wrote:

kalmar wrote:

Mimi, any more riddles and I'm going to take your internet off you again.

ftfy

Kalmar's the Demon Headmaster; such things are within his power. That's why he doesn't want you do to pose any other riddles: "Curiosity is the curse of the human brain."

Questions are a burden to others. Answers are a prison for oneself.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 11:56

MaliA wrote:

MrD wrote:

"Curiosity is the curse of the human race."

FTFY

Why, you little...

*changes Mafia vote*

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

Be Excellent To Each Other

Riddle me this, riddle me that
drug dealers and stencils

Who is online

Be Excellent To Each Other

Riddle me this, riddle me that drug dealers and stencils

Who is online

Riddle me this, riddle me that
drug dealers and stencils