NationStates Jolt Archive

OK, folks, I am really irritated by this problem. I was just watching some crap interactive TV quiz channel (www.quiz.tv) and the following mathematical puzzle was put forward. After about 60 years of incorrect answers, someone gave the answer of 2,260 and was correct. Infuriatingly, the host did not reveal the thinking that led to this answer, and it is driving me mad - I've been through so many combinations and equations, but just can't get the above answer from the thing (I lead a dull life, I know). Can any of you please shed any light, before I go insane trying to work it out?

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Add up all the numbers in this list to get the answer. Employ lateral thinking.

(1) Pedals on a bike
(2) Seasons in a year
(3) Legs on a duck
(4) Eggs in a dozen
(5) Days in a week

The only thing I can think of that even has a chance of working is adding up all of the letters themselves - that is, their place in the alphabet. (a=1, b=2, etc.)

The only thing I can think of that even has a chance of working is adding up all of the letters themselves - that is, their place in the alphabet. (a=1, b=2, etc.)That had crossed my mind too. However, I'll leave testing the hypothesis until tomorrow - my mind isn't at its best at this time of night. Thanks for the input!

Addup all the numbers in this list to get the answer. Employ lateral thinking.

(1) Pedals on a bike
(2) Seasons in a year
(3) Legs on a duck
(4) Eggs in a dozen
(5) Days in a week


No way

it's gotta be fifteen

1+2+3+4+5=15

No way

it's gotta be fifteen

1+2+3+4+5=15
Well obviously not, as he just said it was 2260. The idea is how do we arrive at that number.

I trued adding all the letters (a=1, b=2 etc.), but that only comes to 634.

Well obviously not, as he just said it was 2260. The idea is how do we arrive at that number.

I trued adding all the letters (a=1, b=2 etc.), but that only comes to 634.

They don't know what the hell they're talking about. The answer is 15. Maybe the guy misheard the answer or something. I don't care what happened, the answer 2,260 is either false or can only be reached by excessive and useless crunching. 2,260 can't be any more valid an answer than 27, and CLEARLY can't be as valid as 15

OCM'S RZR, BITCHES

OK, folks, I am really irritated by this problem. I was just watching some crap interactive TV quiz channel (www.quiz.tv) and the following mathematical puzzle was put forward. After about 60 years of incorrect answers, someone gave the answer of 2,260 and was correct. Infuriatingly, the host did not reveal the thinking that led to this answer, and it is driving me mad - I've been through so many combinations and equations, but just can't get the above answer from the thing (I lead a dull life, I know). Can any of you please shed any light, before I go insane trying to work it out?

---

Add up all the numbers in this list to get the answer. Employ lateral thinking.

(1) Pedals on a bike
(2) Seasons in a year
(3) Legs on a duck
(4) Eggs in a dozen
(5) Days in a week

1. 2
2. 12
3. 2
4. 12
5. 7

2+12+2+12+7=35

1. 2
2. 12
3. 2
4. 12
5. 7

2+12+2+12+7=35

There are 12 months in a year, not 12 seasons.

hmm... I was able to come up woth 2281... lets see if I cant refine that

hmm... I was able to come up woth 2281... lets see if I cant refine that

HOW

Thats it, it is like 3:15 in the morning, I have to give it up for the night, I will tryagain tomarrow, but I am bery close I think, I am in the generral 2200's area... Ill post tomarrow... iwill get it!!!

ok, what im working at might be able to help you guys so here:

take all the letters in the part of the lsit and turn them to numbers

Pedals on a bike =114+1=115+2=117+2=119+1=120*1=120
Seasons in a year = 165+1=167+4=171+2=173*2=346
legs on a duck = 112+2=114+3=117*3=351
Eggs in a dozen = 127+1=128+12=140+12=152+4=156*4=624
Days in a week = 118+1+119+7=126+5=131*5=655
Total------------------------------------ 2096(I know, but you get the genral idea)
(I left out soem things... Im too tired to rememebr them all)
then I decided that I could be a roman numeral, which means that all but the duck get an extra 1 point.

Then the numebr of things in each part of the list (I have to thoughts on this, mone involves just 4 for the seasons, while the other involves 8 because it is times 2 (4x2=8), then add it to the list amount and then multiply, but that seems stupid to multiple it twice, but that is just one idea, but for now I will just use the 4).

Then (Is this the exact quesiton, or was bike bicycle) because I will use terms which refer to an amount as a number (dozen and Bi form bicycle)

Oh yeah, the actual numbers infront can be included into the point value

Then I multiplied each list section by the number infront (like multiplication... because of the brackets)

So i have been looking for anyting to get me alittle closer, so I knida think you gotta think like this....

GOd I am tired

1. 2
2. 12
3. 2
4. 12
5. 7

2+12+2+12+7=35Yes, I came up with answers like this one and Osutoria-Hangarii's as well, but apparently they're wrong.

Thanks, Ouintine, by the way - hopefully you're on the right track! I'm still trying, but haven't been able to get 2,260 yet :headbang:

the use of the terms 'on a' and 'in a' implies that fractions may also be part of the solution

Is it one of those stupid long-distance call in shows?

The principle is easy. You, as the one doing the show, find out any harebrained way of coming up with a number, when someone calls and guesses a right one, you strike it out and claim it's wrong. Repeat until all your "right" answers have been guessed (Usually you have at the very least 20 to 50 of "right" answers ready).

Since about one in 30 callers actually guesses right, you make a sh..load of a profit!

Is it one of those stupid long-distance call in shows?

The principle is easy. You, as the one doing the show, find out any harebrained way of coming up with a number, when someone calls and guesses a right one, you strike it out and claim it's wrong. Repeat until all your "right" answers have been guessed (Usually you have at the very least 20 to 50 of "right" answers ready).

Since about one in 30 callers actually guesses right, you make a sh..load of a profit!That's exactly what it was, you're right. In my defence, my mother happened to be watching it until I walked in! She's into all her pop culture telly, whereas I prefer news and documentaries, but since it happened to be on... It could be just a random figure, but I'm not sure they could get away with it - there must be some sort of regulatory body (Ofcom, perhaps?). I didn't attempt to ring since I object to the expense involved myself, but the question is still doing my head in.

You might have a point, Gift-of-God. I'll try mucking about with that.

You know, it might have something to do with the '60 years of incorrect answers'. I had no idea what lateral thinking puzzles were but saw this page when I googled it:

http://rec-puzzles.org/lateral.html

Maybe some hints there

That's exactly what it was, you're right. In my defence, my mother happened to be watching it until I walked in! She's into all her pop culture telly, whereas I prefer news and documentaries, but since it happened to be on... It could be just a random figure, but I'm not sure they could get away with it - there must be some sort of regulatory body (Ofcom, perhaps?). I didn't attempt to ring since I object to the expense involved myself, but the question is still doing my head in.

You might have a point, Gift-of-God. I'll try mucking about with that.
I heard about this puzzle, or one very similar, that some TV show was doing, and apparently, because the cost of the call to ring in is less than -whatever- (possibly £1), they're not subject to regulation.

the use of the terms 'on a' and 'in a' implies that fractions may also be part of the solution

FRACTIONS !!!!! :eek:

so.... seasons in a year could be 1/4 and eggs ina dozen coul dbe 1/12... and days in a week could be 1/7...

damn :(

#include<iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
bool right_answer, guessed_answer;
const short pedalsonabike = 2, seasonsinayear = 4;
const short legsonaduck = 2, eggsinadozen = 12, daysinaweek = 7;

right_answer = pedalsonabike + seasonsinayear + legsonaduck;
right_answer = right_answer + eggsinadozen + daysinaweek;

cout << "type in your guess\n";
cin >> guessed_answer;

if(guessed_answer == right_answer) cout << "Correct!\n";

return 0;
}


Most guesses would make it say, "Correct!".

Well, seeing as the solution hasn't been found (I think), let me propose this one, which was given from some member on another forum I posted the problem on:


First do 2x3, this gets 6
Then add the 6 to 2, 2 and 1, this gets 11
Then times that 11 by 12, this gets 132
Then add 4 and 5 to the 132, this gets 141.

Keep the 141 at the side for a second
Take 7 to the power of 4, this is 2401

Then take 141 from 2401, this gets 2260

The full sum, showing the numbers from the list used, is;

(7^4)-((((2*3)+2+2+1)*12)+5+4) = 2260

That uses each of the numbers available once, as instructed.
(This also uses the numbers from the list, as in the 1 in (1) Pedals on a bicycle.)

Well, seeing as the solution hasn't been found (I think), let me propose this one, which was given from some member on another forum I posted the problem on:


First do 2x3, this gets 6
Then add the 6 to 2, 2 and 1, this gets 11
Then times that 11 by 12, this gets 132
Then add 4 and 5 to the 132, this gets 141.

Keep the 141 at the side for a second
Take 7 to the power of 4, this is 2401

Then take 141 from 2401, this gets 2260

The full sum, showing the numbers from the list used, is;

(7^4)-((((2*3)+2+2+1)*12)+5+4) = 2260

That uses each of the numbers available once, as instructed.
(This also uses the numbers from the list, as in the 1 in (1) Pedals on a bicycle.)


ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

sneaky.... I like it.... I wish I was that smart... I almost had something almost like that...

But my only question is... where does all the powers and multiplying come from... when I multiplied I gave a good reason... but where does the power and subtraction come from???

*snip*Nice! Thanks :)