rentsch@unc.UUCP (Tim Rentsch) (10/01/85)
The puzzles about strange sequences have prompted me to post this silly puzzle. Part A: How many characters are there (not counting ones in parentheses, and also not counting spaces or punctuation) in the party song which begins A trillion bottles of beer on the wall A trillion bottles of beer Take one down and pass it around (long pause to catch breath) nine hundred ninety nine billion nine hundred ninety nine million nine hundred ninety nine thousand nine hundred ninety nine bottles of beer on the wall ... and which ends ... only one bottle of beer on the wall only one bottle of beer on the wall only one bottle of beer take one down and pass it around NO MORE BOTTLES OF BEER ON THE WALL Part B: If you actually start singing this song at a party, what is the probability that you will be allowed to finish it? Disclaimer: Don't be silly -- how can I write a disclaimer for something I never even sent?