https://www.thduggie.com/thduggies_blog/2009/japanese-math-problem thoughts and family activities in an industrial suburb Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:50:15 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.7 https://www.thduggie.com/thduggies_blog/2009/japanese-math-problem#comment-6102 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:50:15 +0000 http://www.morbidcornflakes.ch/thduggies_blog/?p=179#comment-6102 I tried to get my Japanese account closed, the account I used while an intern here. It took them half an hour to figure out that they couldn’t close it if I didn’t also bring my cash card and the stamp I’d used to open it (the stamp we made in one of our cultural experiences by scratching a block of soapstone). I left with a new ATM booklet, and the knowledge that I had gained some interest on my money, to the tune of 1 yen. Grand total in the account: 253 yen. I wonder how they justify spending that half hour…

]]> https://www.thduggie.com/thduggies_blog/2009/japanese-math-problem#comment-5958 Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:56:25 +0000 http://www.morbidcornflakes.ch/thduggies_blog/?p=179#comment-5958 Well, for rolls of state quarters in the US coin dealers charge $10.50 to $12.50 depending upon the state and mint mark. This is for a $10 roll. Of course you can get rolls of coins here from a bank at no premium if you don’t care about which state or mint you get.

]]> https://www.thduggie.com/thduggies_blog/2009/japanese-math-problem#comment-5943 Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:24:24 +0000 http://www.morbidcornflakes.ch/thduggies_blog/?p=179#comment-5943 The easiest solution would be to go to several convenience stores and ask for 5-yen coins. I’d probably save the 31.5% surcharge that way, but doubt that I could justify the walkabout for what amounts to 3-4 dollars. How much would a coin dealer charge?

]]> https://www.thduggie.com/thduggies_blog/2009/japanese-math-problem#comment-5941 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:33:02 +0000 http://www.morbidcornflakes.ch/thduggies_blog/?p=179#comment-5941 That is outrageous. Get them from a coin dealer next time, they’ll charge less!

]]> https://www.thduggie.com/thduggies_blog/2009/japanese-math-problem#comment-5533 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:53:33 +0000 http://www.morbidcornflakes.ch/thduggies_blog/?p=179#comment-5533 No, that’s not the catch. The catch is the service charge: total cost 1315 yen. Gotta love Japanese banks…

]]> https://www.thduggie.com/thduggies_blog/2009/japanese-math-problem#comment-5526 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:12:52 +0000 http://www.morbidcornflakes.ch/thduggies_blog/?p=179#comment-5526 Well, this is too simple, so there must be a catch. 50 coins per roll, 4 rolls = 200 coins; 5 yen each = 1000 yen. So – what’s the catch? Do they no longer make 5 yen coins, so you are buying collector’s items and they charge a premium?

]]> https://www.thduggie.com/thduggies_blog/2009/japanese-math-problem#comment-5376 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:22:39 +0000 http://www.morbidcornflakes.ch/thduggies_blog/?p=179#comment-5376 Well, you didn’t show your work…

]]> https://www.thduggie.com/thduggies_blog/2009/japanese-math-problem#comment-5375 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:06:23 +0000 http://www.morbidcornflakes.ch/thduggies_blog/?p=179#comment-5375 The obvious answer is “too much,” but none of my math teachers would have accepted that.

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