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by Marriott Edgar
Illustrations by John Hassall
Sam's Racehorse is a nice little arithmetical puzzle.
Read the poem and then answer the question at the bottom of the page.
When Sam Small retired from the Army He knew this 'ere wasn't a fortune, He thought he'd invest in a race orse, He knew buying 'orses was tricky, | |
When he called on the local 'Orse-dealer 'Twere a happy reunion on both sides, The Sergeant brought out his race 'orses, Sam studied their lines and deportment Now the Sarg. had a filly called Buster |
Sam studies their lines |
Sam were struck with her youthful appearance, The Sergeant asked Sam twenty guineas, In the end he paid eight guineas for her, |
Sam in doubt |
But later, when he thought it over, |
He very soon found out the answer The little walk home had fatigued her |
Buster shows false teeth |
Sam finds Buster defunct |
The place were locked up when he got there, Sam knew if he wanted to sell her The raffle were highly successful, |
So here's the question: After buying and selling the horse, how much did Sam gain (or lose)?
For those unfamiliar with Britain's pre-decimal currency (pre-1971):
Value | Coin's colloquial name | Written as | £p equivalent |
Halfpenny | Ha'penny | 1⁄2d. | 0.21p |
Penny | Copper | 1d. | 0.42p |
Threepence | Thruppenny Bit | 3d. | 1.25p |
Sixpence | Tanner | 6d. | 2.5p |
Shilling | Bob | 1/- | 5p |
Florin | Two bob bit | 2/- | 10p |
Half crown | Half a dollar | 2/6 | 12.5p |
Crown | Dollar | 5/- | 25p |
Ten shillings or Half sovereign | Ten bob | 10/- | 50p |
Pound or Sovereign | Quid or Nicker | £1 | £1 |
Guinea | Guinea | £1/1/- | £1.05p |
...and picking some of the amounts mentioned in the poem: | |||
Ninepence | 9d. | ||
Eighteen and six | 18/6 | ||
Seven pounds fourteen and twopence | £7/14/2 |
So how much did Sam gain / lose? (Answer)