Oh dear - a puzzle for Christmas season - Dec 2023
Dec 11, 2023 11:42:40 #
twosummers wrote:
Hi there puzzlers - have a go at this one - suggest an answer but DON'T give your method (I want to keep people guessing for a bit) - I'll post the solution in a few days time!
Enjoy
Enjoy
24
Dec 11, 2023 11:43:34 #
twosummers wrote:
Hi there puzzlers - have a go at this one - suggest an answer but DON'T give your method (I want to keep people guessing for a bit) - I'll post the solution in a few days time!
Enjoy
Enjoy
While the top three examples suggest values for the different object, it is important to carefully examine those similar, but not identical objects used in the final question. Each object in the bottom question is different from the similar, preceding, example.
1) examine the changes to each object, and decide how much that change affects its numerical value.
2) notice that in the first three examples the total was obtained through just Addition, but in the final question one of the operations has changed.
3) remember that in the absences of parentheses to form groups, math operations have a hierarchy. Some operations are carried out between two elements first, otherwise the work proceeds from left to right.
The correct answer is an odd number
Dec 11, 2023 11:47:07 #
Dec 11, 2023 11:51:07 #
MrPhotog wrote:
While the top three examples suggest values for t... (show quote)
.........
twosummers wrote:
Hi there puzzlers - have a go at this one - suggest an answer but DON'T give your method (I want to keep people guessing for a bit) - I'll post the solution in a few days time!
Enjoy
Enjoy
Dec 11, 2023 11:51:11 #
Damned. I didn't see the "X" factor on the third row. I need to change my answer.
Dec 11, 2023 12:00:31 #
Dec 11, 2023 12:02:09 #
tedspics
Loc: Halifax, Pa
Hueg2015 wrote:
24
26.5
I also missed the leg, 2 cylindrical objects, and the x.
Dec 11, 2023 12:03:53 #
keegan wrote:
There is no right answer as given.
A+BxC=? needs to be either
(A+B)xC=? or
A+(BxC)=?
Each gives a different answer
A+BxC=? needs to be either
(A+B)xC=? or
A+(BxC)=?
Each gives a different answer
In the absence of parentheses, or other grouping conventions, the two objects next to a tiger level operation are acted on first, so raising to a power would have priority, then multiplication or division of adjacent elements, and finally addition and subtraction, proceeding from left to right.
So, A+BxC is computed as A+(BxC).
Grouping is necessary to prevent ambiguous or contradictory actions, such as 1/3x3. Working from left to right the answer would be 1. Working from right to left the answer would be 1/9. If you want (A+B)xC, you need to using some way (brackets, braces, parentheses, etc.) to specify the groupings and avoid ambiguity.
This problem has just one multiplication term, involving an odd number, which is added to an even number, and an unambiguous answer, which must be an odd number, so definitely not 40, 12, or 24. Several people have posted the right answer. It is obvious once the details have been pointed out.
Dec 11, 2023 12:06:29 #
MrPhotog wrote:
In the absence of parentheses, or other grouping c... (show quote)
I suppose what one has to say is more important than the OP's request....
"... suggest an answer but DON'T give your method (I want to keep people guessing for a bit) ..."
Dec 11, 2023 12:07:56 #
tedspics wrote:
26.5
I also missed the leg, 2 cylindrical objects, and the x.
I also missed the leg, 2 cylindrical objects, and the x.
These all represent whole-number values. There is no division. I'm curious. How do you get an answer with a decimal fraction in it?
Dec 11, 2023 12:09:28 #
Dec 11, 2023 12:10:53 #
petrochemist
Loc: UK
Longshadow wrote:
I suppose what one has to say is more important than the OP's request....
"... suggest an answer but DON'T give your method (I want to keep people guessing for a bit) ..."
"... suggest an answer but DON'T give your method (I want to keep people guessing for a bit) ..."
Mr Photog did not disclose his working, just explained why the answer is not ambiguous as Keegan had suggested.
Dec 11, 2023 12:12:49 #
petrochemist wrote:
Mr Photog did not disclose his working, just explained why the answer is not ambiguous as Keegan had suggested.
His "explaining" is not a method?
Maybe not the complete method to obtain the result.
Just a portion of it.
The point was to post an answer without ANY explanation of how to/one did arrive at the answer.
Dec 11, 2023 12:21:18 #
Dec 11, 2023 12:22:33 #
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