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#242 Filling up in Pumpstown

Set by Rob Eastaway

When I drive south through Pumpstown, I always need to fill up the car at one of the three gas stations (North, Mid or South) that are strung along the freeway that passes through the town.

Of course, I want to get the best possible deal: there is nothing worse than filling the tank only to find I would have got cheaper fuel if I had waited until the next station. It is a busy road and there is no turning back, so if I haven’t filled up before getting to South, I have to get fuel there even if it is the most expensive.

I have been studying the pricing patterns, and I have found that the three stations always charge different prices from each other, but it seems to be random as to which station will have the cheapest fuel in a particular week. I have also noticed that prices fluctuate a lot from day to day.

Today, as the North station heaves into view, I notice that it is selling at 5.83 Ruritanian dollars per litre. If I fill up there, then there is a 1 in 3 chance it will be the cheapest.

Is there a way that I can improve my odds?

Solution next week

#241 Escape room

There is no solution to be found here, because we want you to solve puzzle #241 yourselves.

Last week, we asked you to use maths, logic and a dash of creativity to help Prince Golightly escape from a perilous situation. The reward? A copy of Headscratchers – our book of ¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ puzzles – will go to the three answers that Rob Eastaway and Brian Hobbs, the book’s authors, like best.

For more details about how to enter the competition, go to . The winners will be announced in our 28 October issue.