These are 12 envelopes, each one with some money in it. This is your money. I am just holding it for you. But, you can have any of these envelopes whenever you want. You just have to ask for it. So, which one do you want first? [They choose the 12]
OK. There you go. This envelope is now gone.
Right [snap fingers]. I forgot to tell you that we have to pay taxes on this money. And because you took the $12, the tax collector will take the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 envelopes [cross out the envelopes as you say the numbers]. Why does the tax collector take these envelopes?
Right! The tax collector takes the factors of whatever envelope you took. Ok, so which envelope do you want. [They choose 11]
Ok. But I forgot to mention that the tax collector always wants some taxes. So, when you choose an envelope there must always be at least one envelope for the tax collector to take -- one factor for the tax collector to take. So, can you take the $11?
[No.] So, which envelope can you take?
Ok. You take the $10. What does the tax collector take? [$5]
Ok. What next? [Nothing].
Ok. Now the tax collector is very kind and does not want to see anything go to waste, so they will take the rest of the envelopes [cross the rest out].