Let me know (in the comment below) if there is a 4th solution – I believe there is a simpler and creative solution.
Think of the 4th solution, if any, for this
“Monkey & Coconuts” Problem.
It was created by Nobel Physicist Prof Paul Dirac, which he told another Chinese Nobel Physicist Prof Li ZhengDao (李政道)。
Pro Li wanted to test the Chinese young students in the first China Gifted Children University of 13 year-old kids, none of them could solve this problem (proved they are not so gifted after all for unknown problems :)
The first 2 solutions were solved by Prof Paul Richard Halmos, the 3rd solved by myself using the Singapore Modelling Math (a modified version of Arithmetics from traditional Math taught in 1970s Chinese Secondary 1 “中学数学” in Singapore).
1st Solution: Higher Math: Sequence
https://tomcircle.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/monkeys-coconuts-problem/
2nd Solution: Linear Algebra: Eigenvalue and Eigenvector
https://tomcircle.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/solution-2-monkeys-coconuts/
3rd Solution: Singapore Modelling Math for PSLE (Primary 6)
https://tomcircle.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/solution-3-best-monkeys-coconuts/
4th Solution:
Any ?
Mathtuition88 