Question

What is the smallest number of florins that must be given to discharge a debt of pounds 1.6s.6d., if the change is to be paid in half-crowns only?

Answer 1

Hint: We will use a unitary method to solve this problem. And we should also know the conversion between pound, pence and shillings. 1 pound is 20 shillings and 1 shilling is 12 pence and also 1 florin is 2 shillings which is equal to 24 pence. We will first convert the debt into pence and then calculate the smallest number of florins to be given.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Before proceeding with the question we should understand the definition of florins, pounds and crowns.

In 1971 the UK moved from a currency system consisting of 12 pence in a shilling, 20 shillings in a pound to a decimal system consisting of 100 new pence in a pound. A Florin was the name of a 2-shilling coin, after decimalisation the old 1 and 2 shilling coins were kept in circulation with a post decimalisation value of 5 and 10 pence.

Now in the question florins is mentioned so we will take into account the currencies and their conversions before decimalisation.

There are 12 pence in a shilling.

And one florin is 2 shillings.

So one florin is \[2\times 12=24\] pence.

Now the debt 1.6s.6d represents the total debt value which is 1 pound + 6 shilling+6 pence. So now converting this debt into pence we get,

We know that there are 20 shillings in a pound and 1 shilling is equal to 12 pence. So 1 pound is equal to \[20\times 12=240\] pence. And 6 shillings is equal to \[6\times 12=72\] pence.

So the total debt \[=240+72+6=318\] pence.

We know that half-crown is equal to 30 pence.

So the person can give 17 florins which is equal to 408 pence as \[17\times 24=408\].

So to discharge a debt of 318 pence the person gives 17 florins that is 408 pence and gets in return \[408-318=90\] pence which is three half-crowns as 1 half-crown is equal to 30 pence.


Note: To solve this question we should know the conversion between pound, shilling, pence, florin and half-crown. Unitary method is the key here. We in a hurry can make a mistake in converting the given debt into pence so we need to be careful while doing this step.