SOLUTION: Hi 5 apples cost as much as 2 papayas. Mrs lynch could buy 18 papayas. If she had bought 12 papayas, she would have 30 dollars left. How much did each papaya cost.

(1)  The info about apples and their comparing prices regarding papayas is IRRELEVANT in this problem.

     This info is not necessary and does not participate in the solution.

     This info should be filtered out and thrown away.

     It is included into the condition with the only goal to confuse the reader.



(2)  The meaning of the condition is that spending all her money, Mrs. Lynch could buy 18 papayas;

     but she bought only 12, and 30 dollars left.


     The solution is in one-two lines (as it should be for a joke problem) :


        +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
        |      The difference, 18-12 = 6 papayas cost 30 dollars;           |
        |                                                                   |
        |    hence, each papaya costs  30/6 = 5 dollars.   ANSWER           |
        +-------------------------------------------------------------------+