NationStates Jolt Archive

Which one is it? (If you don't know about this, it is from A Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy)

Which one is it? (If you don't know about this, it is from A Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy)

I thought 9x6=54...

*flees thread*

2 + 2 equals 5!

i love big brother!

I don't get it... (yes, I've read all 5 books)

EDIT

ohhhh, I missed the poll...

I thought 9x6=54...

*flees thread*

9x6=42 is done as follows:

(1+8x5+1)=1+40+1=42

MAINLY...
it is meant to show that there is no logic in the universe,

9x6=42 is done as follows:

(1+8x5+1)=1+40+1=42

MAINLY...
it is meant to show that there is no logic in the universe,
Which is why God's last message to His creation read so.

Both. But 6x9 only equals 42 in base 13.

"You mean that's it?" said Ford.

"That's it."

"Six by nine. Forty-two."

"That's it. That's all there is."

***

The sun came out and beamed cheerfully at them. A bird sang. A warm breeze wafted through the trees and lifted the heads of the flowers, carrying their scent away through the woods. An insect droned past on its way to do whatever it is that insects do in the late afternoon. The sound of voices lilted through the trees followed a moment later by two girls who stopped in surprise at the sight of Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent apparently lying on the ground in agony, but in fact rocking with noiseless laughter.

"No, don't go," called Ford Prefect between gasps, "we'll be with you in a moment."

"What's the matter?" asked one of the girls. She was the taller and slimmer of the two. On Golgafrincham she had been a junior personnel officer, but hadn't liked it much.

Ford pulled himself together.

"Excuse me," he said, "hello. My friend and I were just contemplating the meaning of life. Frivolous exercise."

I love that book...

9x6=42 is done as follows:

(1+8x5+1)=1+40+1=42

MAINLY...
it is meant to show that there is no logic in the universe,

WTF?

9x6=42 is done as follows:

(1+8x5+1)=1+40+1=42

MAINLY...
it is meant to show that there is no logic in the universe,


1+8=9x5=45+1=46 Not a math wiz .. but I do know that using the wrong method at the wrong time can screw everything up in math. Or is this one of those wtf calculations? Like that riddle ... that I can't remember atm. Where money is used .. and it doesn't come up to the $5.00 or something. Anyone know the riddle I'm talking about?

1+8=9x5=45+1=46 Not a math wiz .. but I do know that using the wrong method at the wrong time can screw everything up in math. Or is this one of those wtf calculations? Like that riddle ... that I can't remember atm. Where money is used .. and it doesn't come up to the $5.00 or something. Anyone know the riddle I'm talking about?


Basic equations have an order you work in. Brackets, exponents, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction. Thus, you do the 8x5 bit first, then add the 1s to it. Try putting into a scientific calculator.

9x6=42 is done as follows:

(1+8x5+1)=1+40+1=42

MAINLY...
it is meant to show that there is no logic in the universe,

Uh, technically that's 40+2, not 9x6. Order of operations.

Random quip.

WTF?

Cheating with order of operations.

1 + 5 * 8 + 1 does indeed equal forty-two - but it does not equal 6 * 9.

Proper substitution would involve (1 + 5) * (8 + 1) - which equals fifty-four, as you said.

Try putting the second one in base 13.

9x6=42 is done as follows:

(1+8x5+1)=1+40+1=42

MAINLY...
it is meant to show that there is no logic in the universe,

Try using BEDMAS

1+8=9x5=45+1=46 Not a math wiz .. but I do know that using the wrong method at the wrong time can screw everything up in math. Or is this one of those wtf calculations? Like that riddle ... that I can't remember atm. Where money is used .. and it doesn't come up to the $5.00 or something. Anyone know the riddle I'm talking about?

Three men go to a hotel and check in for the night. The manager charges them $10 each - $30 in total.
Later, he decides he's over-charged them, so sends the bellhop up with $5 to refund.
Since 3 into 5 doesn't go, the Bellhop decides to give them all back $1 each and pocket the remaning $2. So each man pays $9 for the night ($10 - $1).

Thus:
charge for each man + money Bellhop pocketed is

3*$9 + $2 = $27 + $2 = $29.

Where did the other $1 go?

It's an accounting trick that intentionally confuses debits with credits.

Has anyone multiplied 6 by 9 in base 13 yet, or are you all lazy?

Three men go to a hotel and check in for the night. The manager charges them $10 each - $30 in total.
Later, he decides he's over-charged them, so sends the bellhop up with $5 to refund.
Since 3 into 5 doesn't go, the Bellhop decides to give them all back $1 each and pocket the remaning $2. So each man pays $9 for the night ($10 - $1).

Thus:
charge for each man + money Bellhop pocketed is

3*$9 + $2 = $27 + $2 = $29.

Where did the other $1 go?

thanks that's the one i was talking about.

Basic equations have an order you work in. Brackets, exponents, division, multiplacation, addition, subtraction. Thus, you do the 8x5 bit first, then add the 1s to it. Try putting into a scientific calculator.


cool. i knew there was an order, just didnt remember how it went

Which one is it? (If you don't know about this, it is from A Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy)

We ONLY know that the answer is 42, it's the darn question that escapes us.
I elect for neither one. I guess dissenting without providing an alternate theory/idea makes me a democrat (but that is an issue for another thread)

Has anyone multiplied 6 by 9 in base 13 yet, or are you all lazy?

Well, 6 and 9 are still 6 and 9 in base thirteen, so we still get the equivalent of fifty-four.

Four thirteens (52) plus two ones (2) is 42.