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Ultimate math trick question?

Ziggurat said:
Is the trick just to find out the correct modulo? Do you need to figure out the right base being used as well? Give the full parameters of the problem, or it's just a stupid exercise in trying to demonstrate that the asker is clever.
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That's the question as I found it.
 
Ziggurat said:
Is the trick just to find out the correct modulo? Do you need to figure out the right base being used as well? Give the full parameters of the problem, or it's just a stupid exercise in trying to demonstrate that the asker is clever.
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It's another problem of a sort that abounds in this area, in which one must presume the information is complete and variables not explicitly varied are conventional. I have not even bothered to figure out whether there are number bases other than 10 in which those sums would work, as the main issue in the puzzle is to try to get into the frame of the puzzle maker. Assuming simplicity, it's a 12 hour clock, and the answer is 2.
 
bruto said:
Assuming simplicity, it's a 12 hour clock, and the answer is 2.
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That's really stupid. If it's modulo 12 arithmetic, then all numbers should be modulo 12. To do otherwise is to deliberately form the problem badly to try to be clever, in which case that xkcd comic applies. It's not clever, it's just asinine.
 
Ziggurat said:
That's really stupid. If it's modulo 12 arithmetic, then all numbers should be modulo 12. To do otherwise is to deliberately form the problem badly to try to be clever, in which case that xkcd comic applies. It's not clever, it's just asinine.
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In the real world, though, we use modulo arithmetic in areas where the things we do are not modular but the instruments we use are. Clocks and compasses, for example.
 
bruto said:
In the real world, though, we use modulo arithmetic in areas where the things we do are not modular but the instruments we use are. Clocks and compasses, for example.
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Sure, when context is known. But if you intentionally remove that context and then mix modulo and nonmodulo operations with no indication, that's not clever, it's just annoying.
 
theprestige said:
You're just saying that because you're too stupid to get the answer.

This signature is intended to irradiate people.
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No, it is just stupid question , i could answer easily by observing that all difference are multiple of 12 and 24 and thus must be a hand clock thing.

The answer does not even work anymore in some culture. We long dropped analogue time and we are counting hours in 24h clock e.g. 7+7 = 14h. So it works only for culture where you still have am/pm and not counting in 12h.

ETA: and if you want stupid problem see 1 2, 4, 8, 16 ,32 ,63 or something like that. IIRC the asnwer is something akin to "the number of surface you can make in a circle using bisector at certain angle" and when you get to 5 or 7 you get an odd numbers.

Pretty much arbitrary rule lead to arbitrary answer.


Or you can have tau(n,m) a function which is 0 is n different from m and 1 if n = m.

THen what is the next nubmer f = 1,2 ,4 ,8,16 ,? answer : ? can be ANY number.

f (n) = tau (1,n)*1 + tau (2,n)*2 +tau (3,n)*4 + tau (4,n)*8 + tau (5,n)*16 + tau (6,n)*7127

QED
 
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Ziggurat said:
Sure, when context is known. But if you intentionally remove that context and then mix modulo and nonmodulo operations with no indication, that's not clever, it's just annoying.
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Yes, of course. The puzzle is really as much about guessing what the puzzle is about as in solving it. The question of the unknown sum is a red herring to the real question, which is "if I make these calculations, what am I doing?"
 
0=6
1=2
2=5
3=5
4=4
5=5
6=6
7=3
8=7
9=?

This one is *really* stupid.

Hint: If you can figure out the key difference between "0" and "8" in this sequence, that should hopefully unlock everything for you.
 
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OK, here's a really stupid one I invented.

1=8
2=6
3=7
4=5
5=3
6=0
7=?

The answer:
9

A major hint:
It's not actually a math problem, it's a pop culture reference problem

The punchline:
 
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So now I have to assume Zigg was stupid for not knowing about clocks, but is brilliant for being able to turn a **** thread back around to a really funny joke. My head hurts. Will there be ice cream?
 
Ziggurat said:
I can't really stop you, can I?

But sure, go ahead. Just warn people it's lame.
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Took 2 guesses and was solved. No one seems angry it was lame. But then again people who like puzzles generally don't get as angry as this bunch of skeptics. :D Puzzles and trick questions are all in fun anyway.
 
Here's one that's logical, but getting the correct answer other than by guessing is unlikely:

2x3=3
2x4=3
2x5=5
2x6=6
2x7=4
2x8=?

Hint#1:

It has to do with poker.


Hint #2

Not the cards, but the chips.


Hint #3:

And what poker players do with them when they're bored.
 
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Red Baron Farms said:
Took 2 guesses and was solved. No one seems angry it was lame. But then again people who like puzzles generally don't get as angry as this bunch of skeptics. :D Puzzles and trick questions are all in fun anyway.
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I greatly enjoy puzzles, including ones that call for "lateral thinking," but have a problem with puzzles that purport to be about one thing when they aren't quite. The number sequences in SAT questions, for example, depend for their correct answer on your guessing a rule from a set of likely rules that have been memorized, while, as one other poster pointed out, I think, given enough time one could find other rules and other answers. The question is only partly about guessing the rule for the sequence, but partly about guessing the rule repertoire of the puzzle maker. Similarly, puzzles in which certain unstated conditions are assumed, are only partly about the solutions, and partly about guessing what, in the world of the puzzle maker, would or would not be assumed.

In short, many puzzles, even if they require a certain aptitude, also require a certain limitation.
 
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