silly math puzzles

[jcolvin2]

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I think we all agree that one raincoat = 2, one boot = 8, and one pair of gloves = 3. So we have 2 boots + 1 raincoat * 2 pairs of gloves.
Subbing in values, that's 2*8 + 1*2 * 2*3. Many of you have implicitly followed the order of operations were it came to a group: parenthesis first. So let's use parentheses to better show the order of operations of the individual groups. (2*8) + (1*2) * (2*3) = 16 + 2 * 6. Multiplication/division comes before addition/subtraction, so let's put parenthesis around the multiplication to better show the next step. 16 + (2 * 6) = 16 + 12. Final addition step leaves us with 28, unless bootboot is actually 88 or other shenanigans.

Agreed - three equations and three unknowns, basic middle school math.

[Chilidog]

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88 + (2 x 33) = 154

Except that the symbols overlap on top of each other. So they represent discrete numbers, not digits.

If you want the symbols to represent digits, it could just as easily be 8 to the 8 power, + 2 * 3 squared
= 16,777,264

[keith]

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I think we all agree that one raincoat = 2, one boot = 8, and one pair of gloves = 3. So we have 2 boots + 1 raincoat * 2 pairs of gloves.
Subbing in values, that's 2*8 + 1*2 * 2*3. Many of you have implicitly followed the order of operations were it came to a group: parenthesis first. So let's use parentheses to better show the order of operations of the individual groups. (2*8) + (1*2) * (2*3) = 16 + 2 * 6. Multiplication/division comes before addition/subtraction, so let's put parenthesis around the multiplication to better show the next step. 16 + (2 * 6) = 16 + 12. Final addition step leaves us with 28, unless bootboot is actually 88 or other shenanigans.

This is the right answer=> 28.

BootBoot is to 16 as GloveGlove is to 3.

My "Uncle Guy" missed the multiplication sign when computing my answer for me.

[bill_g]

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88 + (2 x 33) = 154

Except that the symbols overlap on top of each other. So they represent discrete numbers, not digits.

If you want the symbols to represent digits, it could just as easily be 8 to the 8 power, + 2 * 3 squared
= 16,777,264

So, did they post an "official" answer to this because I see a lot of latitude to what the symbols may represent.

Sometimes Mensa fuckheads are just that. I like fair games, but I don't being fair game.

PS my notation for exponents in standard text is 8e8 (using the example above).

[bill_g]

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I think we all agree that one raincoat = 2, one boot = 8, and one pair of gloves = 3. So we have 2 boots + 1 raincoat * 2 pairs of gloves.
Subbing in values, that's 2*8 + 1*2 * 2*3. Many of you have implicitly followed the order of operations were it came to a group: parenthesis first. So let's use parentheses to better show the order of operations of the individual groups. (2*8) + (1*2) * (2*3) = 16 + 2 * 6. Multiplication/division comes before addition/subtraction, so let's put parenthesis around the multiplication to better show the next step. 16 + (2 * 6) = 16 + 12. Final addition step leaves us with 28, unless bootboot is actually 88 or other shenanigans.

They have distinct explicit functions shown between all symbols in all other examples. If they mixed up implied with explicit, I throw a flag on the play.

[W. Kevin Vicklund]

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I think we all agree that one raincoat = 2, one boot = 8, and one pair of gloves = 3. So we have 2 boots + 1 raincoat * 2 pairs of gloves.
Subbing in values, that's 2*8 + 1*2 * 2*3. Many of you have implicitly followed the order of operations were it came to a group: parenthesis first. So let's use parentheses to better show the order of operations of the individual groups. (2*8) + (1*2) * (2*3) = 16 + 2 * 6. Multiplication/division comes before addition/subtraction, so let's put parenthesis around the multiplication to better show the next step. 16 + (2 * 6) = 16 + 12. Final addition step leaves us with 28, unless bootboot is actually 88 or other shenanigans.

They have distinct explicit functions shown between all symbols in all other examples. If they mixed up implied with explicit, I throw a flag on the play.

FWIW, I like your interpretation - I like to throw out alternate interpretations when these come around to demonstrate that there are multiple ways to read these silly math problems.

[PaulG]

Are people on facebook getting it wrong because they miss the twist in the last line? Because that's what I did.

[Chilidog]

Are people on facebook getting it wrong because they miss the twist in the last line? Because that's what I did.

Some.

Most get the order of operations wrong.

Some, I have no idea what they are thinking.

[scirreeve]

This was easy (for me at least) - 28. I hope I'm not wrong cuz that would be embarrassing.

[much ado]

This was easy (for me at least) - 28. I hope I'm not wrong cuz that would be embarrassing.

Through the miracle of Google image search, I found a page in Hungarian that has many of these puzzles in the same style. It also has the answers.

https://kuffer.hu/teszt-15-matematikai- ... rba-jonne/

The answer is here:

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You are correct, the answer is 28.

The page title in Hungarian is "Test: 15 math puzzles that even Einstein would be embarrassed about".

Hmmm...

[Sam the Centipede]

Ha! I'm in Yurp and I write a single stroke 1 and a crossed 7, a pick'n'mix of conventions. Why? Because they're unambiguous when read by colleagues in Norway, France, Britain, 'Merica, anywhere. Of course, people rarely see my handwriting these digital days, but it happens.

I've never had difficulty deciphering others' written numerals unless scrawled messily. A French 1 with its long steeply sloping stroke on the left to the top looks nothing like a 7 in either convention.

[bill_g]

Through the miracle of Google image search, I found a page in Hungarian that has many of these puzzles in the same style. It also has the answers.

Thanks Much Ado. They are mixing implied and explicit functions. I accept the answer, but call bullshit on the test. As explained earlier, if I put a pair of digits on a page, no one automatically thinks to add them (8 + 8), multiply them (8 x 8), or consider the second digit an exponent (8e8)(8x8x8x8x8x8x8x8). They are a pair of digits with no space between them meaning together they represent eighty eight (88), or thirty three (33).

In fact, I would argue if the author wishes to claim 28 is the answer using implied functions, they need to define that with another example. Without that, they've broken their own rules.



PS: Good morning everyone!

[Dave from down under]

Then there is the linguistic approach..

Gloves over gloves..
What can it be other than gloves/groves =1

[bill_g]

It could indicate a BOGO. And if you accept their offer, the lack of them would indicate a zero. So, two of any of these symbols could indicate a potential zero meaning the answer is 2. Potentially.

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

Thanks, all. I figured (pun intended) the figure was a one, BUT since it was a silly math puzzle I wanted to eliminate that possible silliness before I calculated the answer.

[raison de arizona]

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a-b = 0, plug that in and multiply out.