I need some help

[SocialistLez]

My job is having a contest tomorrow.
We have to guess the amount of money in a jar. It will include dollars and coins.

Any advice?

I could really use this extra money. I need ONE more textboook for school and buying it will really put me in a hole. I don't get paid again until the 20th and classes start on the 19th. =/

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. Have you seen the jar yet?

[SocialistLez]

2. I won't see it until tomorrow and I won't have access to the internet. NT

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. Ok...it is a long shot, but here is what I would do.

Your goal is to get a feel for how much might be in that jar. it is not an exact science, but do this if you can.

Get a few different sizes of empty glass jars. Also, get as much change as practical. Borrow both from your neighbors if you have to...you can give them right back.

Fill up each jar, one at a time, an inch or two. Make sure the measurement is exact, and that the coins are level. Try to get a mixture of 50% pennies and 50% silver.

Now, fill up a jar, say 2 level inches with this mixture. Then count how much change is in there.

This will give you a baseline to guess from.

Then, the following variables will come into play when you guess:

1) The diameter of the actual jar.

2) The height of the actual jar.

3) The mixture of copper to silver in the actual jar (you'll have to estimate and adjust).

4) The amount and denominations of paper money in the jar (again, estimate and adjust).