Movie Tickets and Time Machines

[This is a back-issue of one of this site’s newsletters]

Here’s a puzzle for you to try – how creative can you get while solving it?

My local cinema charges $16 for adults, $8 for kids. I arrive with my wife and two kids. In my wallet, I have $50, and two vouchers. The first voucher gives me 10% off the total price. The second voucher lets me buy four tickets for $11 each. Each voucher has a note, saying “may not be used in conjunction with other vouchers.”

What’s the most money I could have left over for popcorn?

Think you’ve got the answer? Share your solution at my facebook page. I’ll share the best answers I’ve seen with you all next week!

Perhaps it was a movie about a time machine?

Another puzzle:

Ten years ago, in 2004, you got a letter. The letter told you that your future self, from 2014, sent you a message via time machine. The catch? The message was just a single English word. That’s all your future self, from 2014, was allowed to send.

Now, it’s 2014, you are standing in the offices of Temporal Telegrams, preparing to compose your message. One English word. Choose carefully!

What single word will you send your past self, to have the maximum possible positive impact on your life?

This one is tougher, so I’ll give you two weeks before I share my solution – which will also show you why the Temporal Telegram puzzle is actually a math problem.

Have fun!

Michael Hartley
Dr Mike’s Math Games for Kids
Monday Morning Math