August 5–August 11, 2008

Problem

You go into a store, buy three things, and the cashier informs you that the cost from multiplying the prices is exactly $5.49. "That's silly," you say, "you should add the prices, not multiply them!" He tells you that it makes no difference; the sum is also $5.49.

What were the prices of the things you bought?

(If you want a harder challenge, repeat the problem with four items for $6.78. Can you find a problem where there is a unique solution involving 5 differently priced items?)

Solution

here.

List of solvers

Trey Sakazaki (5th grade); Dustin Moody (graduate); Steve Wilmarth, Steven Behrend, Lloyd Sakazaki, Kate Smith, Mike Goodman, Lawrence Hon (outside).

Trey Sakazaki wins the prize!