Spider Problem

The Spider Problem is a problem posed in the first series of Look Around You in the programme 'Maths '. It can also be found in Chapter 3.141592 of the textbook by E. W. Whitmarsh that accompanies the series.

The Problem
Eight ladies go to eight shops at eight o'clock in the morning. Each lady wants to buy eight spiders. For each spider, eight spider shoes must also be bought. But they only have eight pounds between them. With each spider costing eight pence and each spider shoe costing an eighth pence each, will the ladies have enough change for the bus home? A journey costing eight pence per stop and made up of eight stops.

The Answer
Most people can straight away conclude that the ladies were eight pence short, but to those deficient in Intelligent Calicium, the answer may not be so apparent and will have to undertake a number of calculations in order to determine this.