Dr Daniel Bearup, Lecturer in Mathematics at the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science, has developed a Christmas-themed problem-solving puzzle.
Titled ‘Counting the cost of the twelve days of Christmas’, the puzzle presents a fun challenge for those looking to solve something a little more mentally stimulating than a Christmas cracker joke over the festive period!
So, can you crack this puzzle? Take on the challenge alone, with other people in your household/bubble or virtually with friends and family.
The puzzle:
Counting the cost of the twelve days of Christmas
Being a romantic at Christmas time, you want to replicate the gifts given in the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to woe your true love. You have discovered that each group of gifts of the same type cost the same amount, for example, the 12 partridges in pear trees will cost the same as the 22 turtle doves. Given that each individual item has its own price (in pounds and pence) what is the minimum you can expect to pay in total?
The solution can be accessed here.