Dudeney, Amusements in Mathematics Problem 18 A number of market women sold their various products at a certain price per pound (different in every case), and each received the same amount - 2s. 2 1/4d. What is the greatest number of women there could have been? The price per pound in every case must be such as could be paid in current money.
Each woman receives 105 farthings. We assume that all amounts sold are multiples of a pound. So each price per pound must divide 105. That gives 8 possibilities: 1, 3, 5, 7, 15, 21, 35, 105. Dudeney 1-25 (C) John Scholes jscholes@kalva.demon.co.uk 25 Oct 2002