hard to solve number problem - doubt math guys will figure it out
July 31st, 2014 at 8:59:14 PM
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Supply the correct number in the following sequence:
7..14..21..28..?
7..14..21..28..?
This was first asked of me by my Criminology professor
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
July 31st, 2014 at 9:00:28 PM
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Nobody knows obv
10 eyes for an eye. 10 teeth for a tooth. 10 bucks for a buck?! Hit the bad guys where it hurts the most: the face and the wallet.
July 31st, 2014 at 9:01:13 PM
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Infinitely many solutions.
July 31st, 2014 at 9:04:36 PM
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What month is it?
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
July 31st, 2014 at 9:38:44 PM
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W/o more information, I'm guessing "35". Searching the On-line Ecyclopedia of Integer Sequences on "7,14,21,28" returns 80 results. Searching on "7,14,21,28,35" returns 62 sequences.
July 31st, 2014 at 11:45:05 PM
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also what year is it. you would have to know if its a leap year. I agree this seems like particular days of the month.Quote: beachbumbabsWhat month is it?
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
August 1st, 2014 at 8:54:41 AM
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the answer is 7. Beachbumbabs and axelwolf came closest so I'll let them fill in the full answer. In a later post, I'll give the full explanation for how and why the problem is derived.
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
August 1st, 2014 at 9:06:30 AM
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Thursdays for this month all follow that sequence then the 4th would be the next Thursday of next month.Quote: darkozthe answer is 7. Beachbumbabs and axelwolf came closest so I'll let them fill in the full answer. In a later post, I'll give the full explanation for how and why the problem is derived.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
August 1st, 2014 at 9:09:54 AM
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deleted
DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!
August 1st, 2014 at 10:06:37 AM
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Sorry but the answer is 6.
Since we know it's a date thing, and a riddle, the CORRECT answer must be the most unlikely choice. Therefore, it's February in a leap year. The next date for that weekday is 6.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
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Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
August 1st, 2014 at 3:42:52 PM
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Well, the answer as I said is 7 and I get to choose as I am the one who made up the missing parameters. The numbers seen are the Fridays in the month of February 2014. The date of the next Friday is 7 of March. The point made by my criminology professor was the obvious answer based on visible evidence may not be the actual answer. One must always search for all the facts and not accept a conclusion off the bat which may be based on incomplete observation. I know this was a trick question but after all, you guys wouldn't have been satisfied if I had said 35!
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
August 1st, 2014 at 4:02:49 PM
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This is idiotic. There is no number that is not a "correct" answer to this question. It is not a "hard to solve problem". It's just stupid.
Easily the worst problem ever posed on this board.
Easily the worst problem ever posed on this board.
August 1st, 2014 at 4:09:33 PM
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The phrase from a poster disparaging 'math guys' is always a sign...
"Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept, thought nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829
August 1st, 2014 at 4:11:43 PM
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Quote: thecesspitThe phrase from a poster disparaging 'math guys' is always a sign...
Hardest problem ever: pick a number.
I doubt the OP will be able to figure it out.
August 1st, 2014 at 4:25:44 PM
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Quote: AxiomOfChoiceHardest problem ever: pick a number.
I doubt the OP will be able to figure it out.
LOL, great mathematicians - lousy criminologists.
I find it interesting that the only two people on here who came close to figuring it out were not mathematicians(beachbumbabs and Axelwolf correct me if I am wrong on that).
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
August 1st, 2014 at 5:35:26 PM
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Quote: darkozLOL, great mathematicians - lousy criminologists.
I find it interesting that the only two people on here who came close to figuring it out were not mathematicians(beachbumbabs and Axelwolf correct me if I am wrong on that).
I think you don't understand what "figuring it out" means. That term implies that there was enough information in the problem to logically deduce the solution.
August 1st, 2014 at 5:43:36 PM
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Quote: AxiomOfChoiceI think you don't understand what "figuring it out" means. That term implies that there was enough information in the problem to logically deduce the solution.
If it is a math problem you would be correct I imagine - it was not a math problem. It was a logic lesson.
I was very specific when I titled the thread a "number" problem and not a "math" problem.
There wasn't enough information for someone to logically solve it. But the clue about this coming from a Criminology Professor should have put you on the right track.
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
August 1st, 2014 at 6:53:44 PM
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The first clue was your title, so I knew the answer was not 35. After I saw the "criminology," I thought the same thing as other posters already mentioned, as this being related to dates. But, alas, other people already answered. I don't think you give mathematicians enough credit. As a mathematician, I would have said 4, because I would have the highest probability of being correct.
I heart Crystal Math.
August 1st, 2014 at 7:29:18 PM
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Quote: darkozIf it is a math problem you would be correct I imagine - it was not a math problem. It was a logic lesson.
No, logic problems, by definition, give you enough information to solve the problem logically. That's what makes them logic problems.
By the way, you never gave your answer of my toughest problem ever: Pick a number.
August 1st, 2014 at 7:29:55 PM
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Quote: CrystalMathThe first clue was your title, so I knew the answer was not 35. After I saw the "criminology," I thought the same thing as other posters already mentioned, as this being related to dates. But, alas, other people already answered. I don't think you give mathematicians enough credit. As a mathematician, I would have said 4, because I would have the highest probability of being correct.
The correct answer was clearly pi.
August 1st, 2014 at 7:35:06 PM
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Quote: AxiomOfChoiceNo, logic problems, by definition, give you enough information to solve the problem logically. That's what makes them logic problems.
By the way, you never gave your answer of my toughest problem ever: Pick a number.
Okay, I shall pick a number.
zero
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
August 1st, 2014 at 7:39:10 PM
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Yeah that's wrong.
August 1st, 2014 at 7:42:48 PM
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Quote: AxiomOfChoiceYeah that's wrong.
Fooled you. I didn't pick a number yet. I picked nothing, zero, ha, ha, ha.
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
August 1st, 2014 at 9:08:07 PM
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Quote: darkozFooled you. I didn't pick a number yet. I picked nothing, zero, ha, ha, ha.
Even more wrong.
August 1st, 2014 at 9:21:00 PM
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Quote: AxiomOfChoiceEven more wrong.
Even more right!
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
August 1st, 2014 at 10:10:41 PM
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I don't how the answer above could be incorrect(4). (I asked about the leap year)Quote: AxelWolfThursdays for this month all follow that sequence then the 4th would be the next Thursday of next month.Quote: darkozthe answer is 7. Beachbumbabs and axelwolf came closest so I'll let them fill in the full answer. In a later post, I'll give the full explanation for how and why the problem is derived.
Considering the question was asked right now. I would assume you would have to look for the closest dates that matched the sequence (assuming you were trying to solve a mystery). It was obvious you were not looking for a normal mathematical answer. Had you made a bet or offered a prize, I think you would have to pay me out when I said the 4th. since the 7th 14th 21st and 28th is this month and a re all Thursdays and the next following Thursday is the 4th.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
August 1st, 2014 at 10:36:34 PM
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Quote: AxelWolfI don't how the answer above could be incorrect(4). (I asked about the leap year)Quote: AxelWolfThursdays for this month all follow that sequence then the 4th would be the next Thursday of next month.Quote: darkozthe answer is 7. Beachbumbabs and axelwolf came closest so I'll let them fill in the full answer. In a later post, I'll give the full explanation for how and why the problem is derived.
Considering the question was asked right now. I would assume you would have to look for the closest dates that matched the sequence (assuming you were trying to solve a mystery). It was obvious you were not looking for a normal mathematical answer. Had you made a bet or offered a prize, I think you would have to pay me out when I said the 4th. since the 7th 14th 21st and 28th is this month and a re all Thursdays and the next following Thursday is the 4th.
Axelwolf,
You made the assumption I was talking about this month. I never stated that.
This is not something I would make a bet on or offer a prize for since the object was to show that an answer cannot always be found based on the evidence at hand. It is not a fair problem for making bets (you would be right to accuse me of cheating in that scenario.)
I presented the problem as my Criminology professor gave it to me (with the only difference I made it February of this year instead of the year I was in his class.) The object of the problem is not to make anyone feel tricked but to give a lesson in not reaching conclusions on assumptions of fact.
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
August 2nd, 2014 at 1:14:32 AM
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NO I Didn't assume anything other than the answer had to do with calender days of the year. My answer can not be wrong given the information given.Quote: darkozQuote: AxelWolfI don't how the answer above could be incorrect(4). (I asked about the leap year)Quote: AxelWolfThursdays for this month all follow that sequence then the 4th would be the next Thursday of next month.Quote: darkozthe answer is 7. Beachbumbabs and axelwolf came closest so I'll let them fill in the full answer. In a later post, I'll give the full explanation for how and why the problem is derived.
Considering the question was asked right now. I would assume you would have to look for the closest dates that matched the sequence (assuming you were trying to solve a mystery). It was obvious you were not looking for a normal mathematical answer. Had you made a bet or offered a prize, I think you would have to pay me out when I said the 4th. since the 7th 14th 21st and 28th is this month and a re all Thursdays and the next following Thursday is the 4th.
Axelwolf,
You made the assumption I was talking about this month. I never stated that.
This is not something I would make a bet on or offer a prize for since the object was to show that an answer cannot always be found based on the evidence at hand. It is not a fair problem for making bets (you would be right to accuse me of cheating in that scenario.)
I presented the problem as my Criminology professor gave it to me (with the only difference I made it February of this year instead of the year I was in his class.) The object of the problem is not to make anyone feel tricked but to give a lesson in not reaching conclusions on assumptions of fact.
That's why I mentioned a better question to have asked was about a leap year. You didn't answer that. Had I went to the calendar and looked I would have also included that as a possible answer. I Probably could have came up with more probable answers as well.
I'm fairly certain that this question was originally meant to trick math guys into using a math formula. And that's probably what happened. And then encourage them to think differently about things.
I doubt you even realized it matched up with this month. Certainly when he first gave you this question he didn't look at this month.
The only thing that should be learned from this is, there can be more than one answer and unless you ave all the facts, you cant come up wit an accurate answer unless you can read minds.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
