billryan
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October 22nd, 2017 at 7:50:12 AM permalink
And why?
In the series 7,10,8,11,9,12_____, what number should come next?
Spoilers please. Explanations get extra credit.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
OnceDear
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October 22nd, 2017 at 8:29:09 AM permalink
Quote: billryan

And why?
In the series 7,10,8,11,9,12_____, what number should come next?
Spoilers please. Explanations get extra credit.

Why the simple puzzles?
I'm going to say any number between 0 and 36 because I live in Europe where roulette has only one zero past spins don't have any predictive qualities. $:o)
I know. I know: The accepted answer is 10 or ANY OTHER NUMBER because the sequence has an unknown underlying pattern: One of many possible patterns https://www.quora.com/Mathematical-Puzzles-Look-at-this-series-7-10-8-11-9-12-What-number-should-come-next
Psalm 25:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Proverbs 18:2 A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand, for he would rather express his own opinion.
Doc
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October 22nd, 2017 at 8:31:15 AM permalink
For a short intro sequence like this one, there are probably numerous formulae that could be followed. One of the simplest is a pattern that either begins with or reached 7 as the first reported number and continues with a +3 -2 +3 -2 progression. This gives (following the reported sequence): 10, 13, 11, 14, 12 ....


Edit: And OnceDear posted while I was typing.
billryan
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October 22nd, 2017 at 9:40:49 AM permalink
According to Quora, the correct answer has yet to be given.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
MaxPen
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October 22nd, 2017 at 9:44:41 AM permalink
Then Quora is wrong.
billryan
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October 22nd, 2017 at 9:50:35 AM permalink
Wouldn't be the first time, but according to the answer given there the next number should be 17. Every Third number is a prime number.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
DJTeddyBear
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October 22nd, 2017 at 10:46:50 AM permalink
Quote: billryan

Wouldn't be the first time, but according to the answer given there the next number should be 17. Every Third number is a prime number.

....um....
Then wouldn't it be 13???
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Doc
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October 22nd, 2017 at 11:01:20 AM permalink
If the "rule" is just "every third number is a prime", then there seems to be an infinity of options.
MaxPen
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RS
October 22nd, 2017 at 11:20:13 AM permalink
Time to Google up another puzzle.

Please make sure the next one is valid.
QFIT
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October 22nd, 2017 at 12:42:09 PM permalink
Obviously hte answer is:

Purple
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billryan
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October 22nd, 2017 at 3:27:09 PM permalink
From Quora
A series is a mathematical operation.
So let's look at this series critically.
7 is a prime number, and the next prime number is 11, 3 steps later. Thus there is a subseries where every 3 steps is a prime number. But WHICH prime number?
The number after it has an interesting property of being a multiple of a number 2 less than the prime. On top of this the coefficient is changing. What is the pattern? Well, it's decreasing. 7–2 = 5 x 2 equals 10, 11–2 equals 9, x 1 equals 9.
After that, the next number is the multiple of 4 multiplied by the lowest prime divisor of the previous number.
Well, the next number only gives us a single case… the prime number that is equal to or greater than 3 higher than the previous number.
3 + 12 = 15, next prime is 17.
So if we follow this sequence we get:
7, 10, 8, 11, 9, 12, 17, 0, 0, 5, -3, 13, 17, -30, 8, 11…
What this teaches us is that an arbitrary sequence may appear to have an obvious pattern but there is no inherently correct next answer without access to a definition of that sequence.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
MaxPen
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October 22nd, 2017 at 5:19:52 PM permalink
Good thing you're not in charge of administering test questions where the results are meaningful.
Doc
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October 22nd, 2017 at 9:13:56 PM permalink
An interesting series of posts. The OP begins with:
Quote: billryan

In the series 7,10,8,11,9,12_____, what number should come next?
Spoilers please. Explanations get extra credit.


The first answer offered says:
Quote: OnceDear

The accepted answer is 10 or ANY OTHER NUMBER because the sequence has an unknown underlying pattern: One of many possible patterns....


The second answer offered says:
Quote: Doc

For a short intro sequence like this one, there are probably numerous formulae that could be followed. One of the simplest is a pattern that.... This gives (following the reported sequence): 10


Then the OP responds:
Quote: billryan

... the correct answer has yet to be given.


followed by his quoting his resource as:
Quote: billryan

... the next number should be 17.


Then finally he quotes his resource again and concludes:
Quote: billryan

What this teaches us is that an arbitrary sequence may appear to have an obvious pattern but there is no inherently correct next answer without access to a definition of that sequence.



So the first two responses indicate that there are many possible correct answers, with each of these responses happening to suggest the same possible answer in their explanations. The OP says that they are not correct, then later says, "there is no inherently correct next answer" while offering a different possible answer.

What's with this? Start a thread that basically asks, "Can you guess a number and explain why you chose it?" and then criticizes those who answer because they didn't guess the same number he was thinking about? C'mon now. What's the "explanation" for why "the next number should be 17" while "10" is not an equally correct answer among the many?

What a waste!
RS
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October 22nd, 2017 at 9:36:41 PM permalink
Quote: Doc

What a waste!


/thread
billryan
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October 23rd, 2017 at 12:02:14 AM permalink
Quote: Doc

An interesting series of posts. The OP begins with:

The first answer offered says:

The second answer offered says:

Quote: Doc

For a short intro sequence like this one, there are probably numerous formulae that could be followed. One of the simplest is a pattern that.... This gives (following the reported sequence): 10


Then the OP responds:

followed by his quoting his resource as:

Then finally he quotes his resource again and concludes:


So the first two responses indicate that there are many possible correct answers, with each of these responses happening to suggest the same possible answer in their explanations. The OP says that they are not correct, then later says, "there is no inherently correct next answer" while offering a different possible answer.

What's with this? Start a thread that basically asks, "Can you guess a number and explain why you chose it?" and then criticizes those who answer because they didn't guess the same number he was thinking about? C'mon now. What's the "explanation" for why "the next number should be 17" while "10" is not an equally correct answer among the many?

What a waste!



I took a question off of a website, and asked it here. After two people answered, I stated, factually, that according to the source of the question, the correct answer had not been given. When I read the question, my answer was ten. According to the site, that was wrong. Knowing there are many people here far better at math than I am, I posted it here to see if people would get the right answer. I didn't criticize anyone, for anything. I said that according to the website, the correct answer hadn't been given.
If you are going to quote me, please be honest and not selectively edit it.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
billryan
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October 23rd, 2017 at 12:03:32 AM permalink
Quote: billryan

According to Quora, the correct answer has yet to be given.




This is criticism?
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
AxelWolf
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October 23rd, 2017 at 12:41:34 AM permalink
Quote: MaxPen

Good thing you're not in charge of administering test questions where the results are meaningful.

Troll much?

Political feuds run deep.
♪♪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♪♪
MaxPen
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October 23rd, 2017 at 5:25:34 AM permalink
Quote: AxelWolf

Troll much?

Political feuds run deep.



No just making an observation. As Doc finely pointed out this whole thread turned ludicrous 4 posts in.
Romes
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October 23rd, 2017 at 7:18:13 AM permalink
Quote: billryan

And why?
In the series 7,10,8,11,9,12_____, what number should come next?
Spoilers please. Explanations get extra credit.

Pattern looks to be +3, -2.... so the next few numbers would be: 10, 13, 11, 14, 12, 15.
Playing it correctly means you've already won.
AxelWolf
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October 23rd, 2017 at 8:31:57 AM permalink
Quote: MaxPen

No just making an observation. As Doc finely pointed out this whole thread turned ludicrous 4 posts in.

Had it been anyone other than Bill or a few select others would you have made that observation? I think not.

Anyways, I was just giving you a hard time because it's fun. You guys can stalk each other all you want.
♪♪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♪♪
billryan
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October 23rd, 2017 at 12:03:35 PM permalink
That's what I came up with, also.
Even the explanation didn't make sense to me.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
billryan
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October 23rd, 2017 at 12:06:09 PM permalink
That's what I came up with, also.
Even the explanation didn't make sense to me.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
Wizard
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October 23rd, 2017 at 4:06:12 PM permalink
10. Because it follows a 3 up/2 down pattern.
Last edited by: Wizard on Oct 23, 2017
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billryan
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October 23rd, 2017 at 4:15:29 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

[soiler=My answer]10. Because it follows a 3 up/2 down pattern. [/spoiler]




Did you read the explanation why the given answer was 17? Did it make sense to you?
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
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