2.12 Restaurant Coupon

Status

::PROTO::

Location

Anywhere

Type

Optional Puzzle

Plot Setup

None required

Props

One sheet of paper.

Plot Point to Convey

None

Short Description

An unusual financial balance sheet reveals instructions on how to raise money.

Detailed Description

The set up would be something like, "We hate to ask you to do such a menial thing, but the lab assistants are getting hungry so we need to phone in orders to a few delivery restaurants. We only have 3 $20s, 6 $10s, 3 $5s, (etc.) and can't make change. We need at least n burgers, but no more than m. Monica is a vegetarian so we need to have at least one vegetarian meal. Sam is gluten intolerant. We need both diet cola and regular. (etc.)

"Here's a set of delivery coupons that you can use. Would you please work out an order that will please everyone, write it down on this form, and cut out the appropriate coupons?"

We would make up all sorts of coupons (Sam's Chinese Food, Belmont Burgers, etc.; one or more per establishment). Each coupon would have it's own constraints, such as

• Expiration date (i.e., some coupons that would really help the order...won't be valid)
• Not valid in combination with any other offer (on two coupons from the same establishment)
• Only original coupons accepted--no photocopies

And, most importantly, the coupons would be printed on both sides of the same sheet of paper. That means that cutting out and using certain coupons would prevent using certain other coupons on the reverse side.

The coupons could be for things like,

• 50% off 2nd meal of equal or lesser value
• Free litre of Coke with order of $15 or more

Puzzle Solution

This puzzle would not solve to a particular phrase. Rather, the players would have to write down precisely which items should be ordered from each restaurant. They would also have to cut out and hand in the required coupons.

To Do

Create and playtest version 2.