A man owns a candy store and sells only two kinds of candy. One type of candy cost $0.75, the other cost $1.00. Prices are clearly displayed in the store such that all customers know what type of candy is for sale and how much it cost.
A man, call him man A, walks into the candy store and hands the clerk a dollar and asks for a piece of candy. The clerk asks man A which type of candy he wants. Seconds later, another man, B, walks into the store and hands the clerk a dollar and asks for a piece of candy. The clerk goes and gets the $1.00 piece of candy for man B.
How is it that the clerk knew that man B wanted the $1.00 piece of candy, but had to ask man A which he wanted? [Answer after the break]
The clerk did not know which candy man A wanted because man A handed the clerk a $1 bill. Man B however handed the clerk 4 quarters totaling to $1. If man B wanted the $0.75 piece of candy, he would have only handed the clerk 3 quarters.
Puzzle courtesy of Professor Siva.
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