A Charitable Bequest

Unreviewed import — a classic from the public domain; its solution has not been machine-checked yet.

math

A man left instructions to his executors to distribute once a year exactly fifty-five shillings among the poor of his parish; but they were only to continue the gift so long as they could make it in different ways, always giving eighteenpence each to a number of women and half a crown each to men. During how many years could the charity be administered? Of course, by "different ways" is meant a different number of men and women every time.

Solution

Commit an attempt to unseal the proof. Write your answer — right or wrong, thinking it through is the point.

Solution

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