Doing the Math - Week Four

Between the family home for Christmas, with associated distractions, and waiting for people to vote on one of the three rooms (hint, hint), the project was not a primary focus last week. Well, there was another reason, but I will leave that for another post. Still, I did manage to select items to pass along to new owners, one of which has an interesting story attached to it, and if you check out the current listings you will learn of that story. Today, however, is math day, and I think I shall make it a extraordinarily fun one, and I will dedicate it to Mirinda.

Part of my clutter is something that can be found in many homes, or so I gather from a variety of sources. Not unlike many people, I often toss my loose change into a jar, or more accurately, a pile on my dresser which ultimately becomes so large that the coins get transferred into a jar. A recent news story (about the relative value of smaller coins and the new legislation regarding that value) made me reflect upon this pile of metal. This reflection led to a non-felonious idea that made me chuckle, and made the Mrs. roll her eyes. You see, I have decided to use that pile/jar of change to create a special listing for eBay™. The fact that it makes a cool math problem is a bonus.

OK, the concept is simple. I take an equal number of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies and put them into a bag. Let's say 25 of each. That means the face value is as follows:

25 Quarters = 25 x .25 = $6.25
25 Dimes = 25 x .10 = 2.50
25 Nickels = 25 x .05 = 1.25
25 Pennies = 25 x .01 = 0.25
Total = $10.25

If you put this into an ordinary paper lunch sack, it weighs between 13 and 14 ounces. Now, reaching into the sack and stirring it well, I take a handful of coins out. My cupped hand measures around 3 x 2 x 2 inches. In three random selections, I end up with the following:

Draw one (apx 6 ounces) -

14 Quarters (3.50)
13 Dimes (1.30)
8 Nickels (0.40)
11 Pennies (0.11)
Value = $5.31

Draw two (apx 6 ounces) -

13 Quarters (3.25)
7 Dimes (0.70)
11 Nickels (0.55)
8 Pennies (0.08)
Value = $4.58

Draw three (apx 6 ounces) -

10 Quarters (2.50)
6 Dimes (0.60)
11 Nickels (0.55)
15 Pennies (0.15)
Value = $3.80

Based upon this, the average of an approximate 6 ounce draw is worth around $4.56, or so it would seem. Just for giggles, let's take one more draw:

Draw four (apx 6 ounces) -

13 Quarters (3.25)
10 Dimes (1.00)
10 Nickels (0.50)
10 Pennies (0.10)
Value = $4.85

Now the face value of that 6 ounce average is about $4.63, a nice little increase. Of course, it could have very easily decreased. Based upon this little exercise, however, it would be interesting to see how much a Mystery Bag of Loose Change would go for on eBay™, don't you think? I mean, the notion is enticing, and I risk taking a loss, but it would be fun. Yes, I think I will do just that.

The Mrs. just rolled her eyes again and mumbled something about "silly."