I got into it with someone who claimed there was no correct answer. I looked it up in the book and it isn't there. For all I know, Basil Rathbone made it all up himself, I wouldn't put it past him.
Has anyone ever actually tried to work it out? When I did, I got "loss".
You've got me?! Who's got you?!
I couldn't work it out because I'm an American who knows only a little about modern British currency and next to nothing of 19th Century British currency. But the way Murdstone dictated the math problem in such rapid fire would be almost impossible for any adult to understand, let alone the frightend young boy whom Murdstone is intimidating!
shareFortunately, I've got one thing David hasn't got -- a DVR and a remote control with a pause button!
100 cheeses x .045 (4 1/2 cents) = $4.50 (so that's how much I spent)
Sold: 50 x .065 = $3.25
+ sold 20 x .005 = .10
Total $3.35
(30 - no sale, used them myself)
Loss of $1.15
I suspect this may be one of those BS problems like "Train A starts out from Boston going 35 miles an hour, Train B starts out from Philadelphia going 25 miles an hour, at what point will they pass each other?" The book just has Murdstone ask how much are 5000 cheeses at 4 1/2 cents each. I have this idea that Rathbone ad libbed the rest. I think it's pretty clear that in the film, Murdstone wants to give David a problem he couldn't possibly solve. Especially from the way he looks when he says "I beat him!", Rathbone seems to be playing Murdstone as a BDSM whips and chains kind of guy who hadn't been Getting any from Clara because she's pregnant.
There's no reason we can't control the world's cheese market!
Clever math. The version of David Copperfield with a pre-Harry Potter Daniel Rathcliffe is amazingly similar to the 1935 version. I believe Mr. Maidstone uses a similar, if not the same math problem.
shareSherlock Holmes couldn't figure out that math problem.
shareNo right answer. How can it be profit or loss if you used some yourself? Depends on what they were worth to you!
shareIf you use some yourself that's considered "subject to use tax". I don't know how they did this in England however and I'm inclined to agree with mrleglamp.
Well, the city's being built and I'm winning this game. So don't interrupt us with trifles.
A maths problem in order for David could get a thrashing.
It's that man again!!