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Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Mon, 08 December 2003 22:46

Ron

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Here are this week's puzzles. I will accept PM answers for 24 hours.

1. Cervantes separates numbers into three groups.
Why? (He has a reason, unusual but strict, for doing it. When you discover it, you'll also know in which group to put 14.)

Group 1:
1

Group 2:
4,5,9,11

Group 3:
2,3,6,7,8,10,12,13

---
The numbers of the next 2 sequences follow strict and rigorous criteria, although not always apparent. Test your mental strength by finding the secret to each sequence. If you feel lost, the titles may help you. (#2 and #3 are NOT math-related at all)

2. "Absent"
What's the secret to this sequence? What is the next number?
2,4,6,30,32,34,36,40,42,44,46,50,52,54,56,60,62,64,66,2000,?

3. "Ease and Comfort"
What's the secret to this sequence? What is the next number? (2 possible answers)
1,3,11,17,111,117,317,?

---

4. Use the digits 1-9, one digit for each Z below, so that the math operations are correct. Each digit may only be used once.

Z + Z = Z
-       +
Z       Z
=       =
Z x Z = ZZ

5. Use 8 of the digits from 1-9 for each Z below. Use each digit only once.
The operations must be read in the direction heading toward the equal signs. For example, in the third row, the number on the right is divided by the number in the middle, and the result is the Z on the left of that row.

        Z
        =
    Z + Z = Z
    x   -
Z = Z / Z
    =
    Z

Thread locked until dealine has passed.

Ron Miller
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Re: Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Tue, 09 December 2003 23:28

Ron

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Looks like I made them too easy again. Razz

4 people (HiltonL, mazda, LEit, and overworked) turned in all complete correct answers.

TheQ got his answers correct but didn't explain how he got the answer for number 1.

Ashlyn got her answers correct, but guessed on number 1.

And HiltonL has been chosen as this week's Puzzle Master.

Here are the answers:

1.

Group 1 is numbers with more vowels than consonants
Group 2 is numbers with the same number of consonants and vowels.
Group 3 is numbers with more consontants than vowels

Therefore "14" goes into group 2.

2.

The sequence is all the numbers which do not involve the letter "e".
The next number in the sequence is 2002.

3.

The sequence involves numbers with an increasing number of "e"'s in the spelling. The next number would be 1317 (one thousand three hundred and seventeen). (and no, Americans don't pronounce it as "a thousand three hundred seventeen".) Rolling Eyes

Thread unlocked.

[Updated on: Tue, 09 December 2003 23:37]

Ron Miller
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Re: Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Tue, 09 December 2003 23:33

LEit

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Location: CT

I think Mazda and I deserve an award for getting the right answers 3 times and never getting selected...

- LEit

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Re: Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Tue, 09 December 2003 23:35

Ron

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LEit wrote on Tue, 09 December 2003 23:33

I think Mazda and I deserve an award for getting the right answers 3 times and never getting selected...

I was thinking that very thought when the random number program didn't pick you. Actually though, Mazda was the winner several weeks ago.

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Re: Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Wed, 10 December 2003 02:39

HiltonL

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Past Weekly Puzzle Master

Messages: 67
Registered: December 2003
Location: South Africa

Thanks Ron!

But an ESPECIALLY big thanks to Ron's random number generator, without whom none of this would have been possible. I promise to use my title to strive for love and World Peace. Laughing

Ron wrote on Wed, 10 December 2003 06:28

Ashlyn got her answers correct, but guessed on number 1.

Ashlyn always guesses her answers, she admitted to me. Rolling Eyes

Ron wrote

Group 3 is numbers with more consontants than vowels

Hmm, looks suspiciously like the same typo I sent you in my answers... You're not just copying me now are you Ron? Shocked

Ron wrote

The sequence involves numbers with an increasing number of "e"'s in the spelling. The next number would be 1317 (one thousand three hundred and seventeen). (and no, Americans don't pronounce it as "a thousand three hundred seventeen".) Rolling Eyes

I'm curious, you listed this one as having two possible answers, which I why I guessed that you had thought of "a thousand three hundred seventeen" as a possible interpreted pronounciation, leading to 3117 as the alternative correct answer. What was your alternative answer and why?

Cheers
Hilton
...

[ Show the rest of the message ]

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Re: Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Wed, 10 December 2003 02:47

LEit

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alternative is 1117 (eleven hundred [and] seventeen)

- LEit

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Re: Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Wed, 10 December 2003 03:03

HiltonL

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Registered: December 2003
Location: South Africa

LEit wrote on Wed, 10 December 2003 09:47

alternative is 1117 (eleven hundred [and] seventeen)

Oh, very good. Okay, I didn't think of that at all. (And I WAS looking for an alternative answer)

So you've got all the answers correct 3 times now LEit? I'm beginning to feel guilty for being picked on my first time.

But not that guilty. Twisted Evil

Cheers
Hilton

[Updated on: Wed, 10 December 2003 05:50]

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Re: Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Wed, 10 December 2003 05:45

mazda

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Location: Reading, UK

LEit wrote on Wed, 10 December 2003 04:33

I think Mazda and I deserve an award for getting the right answers 3 times and never getting selected...

and for getting both answers to number 3.

You could ask for a recount on the basis that Hilton didn't get both answers to number 3. Boxing

And he calls himself the Puzzle Master. Lurking

I am the God of hell fire, and I bring you

... Brian Pithers

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Re: Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Wed, 10 December 2003 05:58

HiltonL

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mazda wrote on Wed, 10 December 2003 12:45

and for getting both answers to number 3.

You could ask for a recount on the basis that Hilton didn't get both answers to number 3. Boxing

I got ANOTHER answer to number 3. However, without having lived in the USA how was I to know how they choose to pronounce things? I mean, they say "One hundred seventeen", it's quite fair to assume that they also say "A thousand one hundred".

Between us we came up with 3 answers!

BTW - talking about multiple answers - did anyone rigorously check that the answer to numbers 4 was unique? I just played with a few numbers on paper and it came out, but it seemed too easy - I made a bunch of assumptions and it worked first time. Number 5 had only 2 possibilities to try because of the lack of double-digits in the multiplication and division lines.

Quote:

And he calls himself the Puzzle Master. Lurking

Oh no I don't! Ron does.

Cheers
The Puzzle-Master (Ooops, I mean Hilton)

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Re: Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Wed, 10 December 2003 08:13

Ron

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I'll see what I can do to make next week's puzzles harder Twisted Evil

Of course, that just means that Ashlyn will be the only one to get them right Rolling Eyes

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Re: Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Wed, 10 December 2003 08:50

mazda

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HiltonL wrote on Wed, 10 December 2003 10:58

BTW - talking about multiple answers - did anyone rigorously check that the answer to numbers 4 was unique? I just played with a few numbers on paper and it came out, but it seemed too easy - I made a bunch of assumptions and it worked first time. Number 5 had only 2 possibilities to try because of the lack of double-digits in the multiplication and division lines.

Well, if you consider the ZZ in the bottom right then it has to be between 12 and 17 (8 + 9).
You can discount 13 and 17 as they are prime.
15 would need 3 x 5, using 2 5's.
12 would be 3 x 4 for the same reason, meaning the top sum couldn't work (smallest numbers left would be 5 and 6).
So you are left with 2 possibilities :- 14 and 16.
For 14 you have the problem of where to put the 8 and 9.
They can only go on the right of the '=' in the top row, as putting them on the left of it would make a sum > 10 (already used the 1 and 2 in 2 x 7 = 14 remember).
So only 16 can go in the bottom right corner.

16 has to be 9 + 7 and 2 x 8.
And 2 has to be 5 - 3, so it is a unique solution.

[Updated on: Wed, 10 December 2003 08:53]

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Re: Puzzle Thread Dec. 8

Thu, 11 December 2003 04:41

HiltonL

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Past Weekly Puzzle Master

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Registered: December 2003
Location: South Africa

mazda wrote on Wed, 10 December 2003 15:50

16 has to be 9 + 7 and 2 x 8.
And 2 has to be 5 - 3, so it is a unique solution.

Thanks mazda... Now I can rest easy without doing any more tough thinking myself. Smile

Cheers
Hilton

[Updated on: Thu, 11 December 2003 04:43]

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