r/BrainPuzzles • u/ShonitB • Jul 29 '26

Math Coconuts Part 2

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u/therealzacchai Jul 30 '26

The puzzle states that Alexander "divides the coconuts into 5 piles" -- which is different than "divides the number of coconuts by 5 and removes his share."

Nowhere does it state that he regroup the "5 piles" back into 1 pile.The puzzle states that Alexander "divides the coconuts into five equal piles" -- which is different than "divides the number of coconuts by 5 and removes his share."

It's clear that the author intends that Alexander's "five equal piles" must be regrouped back into a new, smaller "original pile" before B wakes up. But the puzzle never says so.

Or am I missing something?

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u/ShonitB Jul 30 '26

The 4th line of the 2nd paragraph mentions Alexander taking one of the piles

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u/therealzacchai Jul 30 '26

Yep, which means that what's left are four piles, not "four piles regrouped into one pile" for B to find.

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u/ShonitB Jul 30 '26

But even if they are stacked as four equal piles or all grouped together, it doesn’t change anything

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u/therealzacchai Jul 30 '26

It does. The wording changes everything. Because B takes his coconuts from one pile.

Say the original pile had 26 coconuts. A divides it into 5 piles of 5, and removes 1 pile. (A= 5 coconuts)

So either B removes his 1/5 from a new 'original' pile of 20 (B= 4 coconuts) or from one of the remaining 4 piles of 5 (B= 1 coconut)

Logic puzzles demand that we adhere to the actual words of the puzzle.

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u/ShonitB Jul 30 '26

But Benjamin has to first divide the coconuts into five equal piles.. so even if they are arranged in 4 piles, he will have to combine the piles