An interesting IRL puzzle.

Drake Dun · 01-17-2010, 05:46 PM

Japanese bills start at 1000 yen. Coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500.

When I make purchases, I always give the cashier an amount designed to reduce the number of coins I'm carrying - within the constraints of what I have, of course. For example, I am carrying one 100 yen coin and two 1 yen coins. The cashier charges me 82 yen. Instead of just giving the cashier the 100 yen coin and getting five coins in return (1 x 10 yen, 1 x 5 yen, 3 x 1 yen) for a net change of +4 coins, I give the cashier the 100 yen coin and the two 1 yen coins so I get two coins in return (2 x 10 yen) for a net change of -1 coins.

Assuming I follow that algorithm perfectly, and cashiers always give me change in the smallest number of coins possible, what is the maximum number of coins I will ever have? Bonus: answer the same question for American currency (denominations of .01, .05, .1, .25; bills start at 1).

PortraitOfSanity · 01-17-2010, 06:03 PM

Japanese people only make coins so they can buy ridiculous things out of vending machines.

True story.

Wintermute · 01-17-2010, 07:31 PM

That was not an IRL interesting puzzle. This thread is full of lies.

I want my 30 seconds back.

Shadowslayer81 · 01-20-2010, 10:45 AM

Ridiculous things? They have beer vending machine! Thats made of awesome, we need to import that shit over here like yesterday!

Solumina · 01-20-2010, 05:27 PM

They also have vending machines for used school girl panties, just because they have some good ideas doesn't mean that there isn't a lot of strange/ridiculousness/creepy/useless ones as well.

Cosmicgaunt · 01-20-2010, 07:00 PM

1 Yen = 1 Cent.

Drake Dun · 01-21-2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wintermute

I want my 30 seconds back.

Sorry, they're my 30 seconds now.

Anarasha · 01-22-2010, 12:02 AM

Mate, I thought I needed a life, and I honestly did not think anyone were less relevant to anything than I, but you obviously just proved otherwise.

gothicusmaximus · 01-22-2010, 01:45 AM

I haven't done real math in a long time, but I think it's 19--after you, with no coins in your pocket, use a 1000 yen bill to buy an item priced at 999 yen. After that point, you should always be able to spend in a way that lightens your load.

By the way, Anarasha, reading this post doesn't inspire thoughts to the effect of "the guy who wrote this will die alone." Can't say the same for any single one of yours.

Anarasha · 01-22-2010, 03:00 AM

I don't care that I will die alone, I have my guitar.

gothicusmaximus · 01-22-2010, 04:19 AM

Just paint a face on it and get a fleshlight installed in the fretboard, then you're all set to go.

Wintermute · 01-22-2010, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gothicusmaximus

Just paint a face on it and get a fleshlight installed in the fretboard, then you're all set to go.

Lol. Zing.

viscus · 01-22-2010, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solumina

They also have vending machines for used school girl panties, just because they have some good ideas doesn't mean that there isn't a lot of strange/ridiculousness/creepy/useless ones as well.

I have never in all of my travels here seen a used school girl panties vending machine. Perhaps ONE exists for some of the weirdos in Akihabara, but it's definitely not a nationwide phenomena. There are a lot of vending machines but the majority of them are for soft drinks, then some for cigarettes, beer and shochu.

You people need to stop believing everything that you hear.

PortraitOfSanity · 01-22-2010, 11:56 AM

White people who want to be Japanese bug the shit outta me.

Not insinuating anyone in here falls into that category, just saying.

Drake Dun · 01-22-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viscus

I have never in all of my travels here seen a used school girl panties vending machine.

I saw one in Waseda once. It was tucked into this corner with ten other vending machines that sell weird stuffs. Mostly sex related.

That's the only one I've seen in 6 years of living here.

PortraitOfSanity · 01-22-2010, 06:18 PM

Panty machines aside, they still sell weird shit in vending machines over there. I mean, they have vending machines that sell hot food for fuck's sake.

Hot food is not supposed to come out of vending machines.

Saya · 01-22-2010, 07:52 PM

Yeah its supposed to come from sketchy vendors on the street corner where you can't tell if anyone jacked off into the coleslaw and questionable bits of something are floating around in the gravy.

I'm totally down with the idea of hot food vending machines.

Mir · 01-22-2010, 07:57 PM

I'm totally down with the idea of hot food (with cum floating about in the gravy) vending machines.

Saya · 01-22-2010, 08:00 PM

Well considering the Japanese are all total perverts, it must happen, amiright?

JethroAranas · 01-22-2010, 08:29 PM

sushi sucks! wasabi rocks. (but not for eating)

Solumina · 01-22-2010, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viscus

You people need to stop believing everything that you hear.

I don't, I have two friends over there teaching English (one in Tokyo, one in Osaka) and the occasionally send pictures of things that amuse them. They have both sent pics of such vending machines.

JethroAranas · 01-23-2010, 12:52 AM

if Noumi finds out about these. End of world. repent!

viscus · 01-23-2010, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PortraitOfSanity

Panty machines aside, they still sell weird shit in vending machines over there. I mean, they have vending machines that sell hot food for fuck's sake.

Hot food is not supposed to come out of vending machines.

I haven't seen any that sell hot food, unless you count canned corn chowder. But hot chocolate and lemon tea from vending machines is fucking awesome when you're freezing your ass off in the winter time. The canned coffee is generally lousy, but it'll do in a pinch.

Solumina · 01-23-2010, 09:06 AM

They have hot drinks that come out in a can? Our hot drink machines give you a cup and dispense the selected beverage into the cup. I bet cans retain the heat better.

Man In Room 5 · 01-23-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drake Dun

When I make purchases, I always give the cashier an amount designed to reduce the number of coins I'm carrying

I thought only girls did this. I used to get annoyed when my wife would do crap like that. It's especially bad if you suddenly do it after the sale has been rung up because you were busy digging in your little change purse for a penny. The problem is that the average IQ of the guy behind the counter is less than the total number of coins in your pocket and he can't make change himself once the sale clears the computer. You buy something that costs $9.54 and give him a $10 bill, 2 quarters and four pennies and he just stares at it, not knowing what to do, like you just shit in his hand.

Real men just dump pennies in a jar and when it gets full they take it to the bank and deposit it. Actually, now that I think of it, most men just get a bigger jar.