Monkeys & Coconuts Problem

tomcircle's avatarMath Online Tom Circle

5 monkeys found some coconuts at the beach.

1st monkey came, divided the coconuts into 5 groups, left 1 coconut which it threw to the sea, and took away 1 group of coconuts.
2nd monkey came, divided the remaining coconuts into 5 groups, left 1 coconut again thrown to the sea, and took away 1 group.
Same for 3rd , 4th and 5th monkeys.

Find: how many coconuts are there initially?

Note: This problem was created by Nobel Physicist Prof Paul Dirac (8 August 1902 – 20 October 1984). Prof Tsung-Dao Lee (李政道) (1926 ~) , Nobel Physicist, set it as a test for the young gifted students in the Chinese university of Science and Technology (中国科技大学-天才儿童班).

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Author: mathtuition88

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