Twelve times two plus sixteen minus seven?

Question

Add all the numbers. What's the answer? This puzzle is on FTN quiz night. The right answer is worth anything between £20,000 and £80,000 and has been the subject of some discussion already. Everybody thinks it's easy, yet nobody has won the money, so maybe not so easy! Remember 2 things; it's a puzzle not a mathematical exercise and the statement "Add all the numbers". I can tell you the answer is not 43 or 37 or 33. You've got to think laterally. I have an idea of a potential answer but would be interested to see an answer that corresponds with my idea.

I was think roman numerals as well, the six in sixteen counting, the toatal of numbers and the sum of numbers if roman numerals are considered and then do you break the roman numerals down, i.e., sIX could be 4 numbers (6, IX, I and X) or am I being too lateral?

(Add all the numbers).......And then is six four numbers or the sum of those four numbers 26? I'm going slightly mad!

Ok, strangely enough I got an answer of 4581 or 18! This was the sum of all the numbers including Roman numerals (LV, L, V, I, M, L, IX, I, X, MI, M, I, V, 12, 2, 6, 16 & 7) or the total amount of numbers, including Roman numerals. Probably anything in between. These are most likely wrong answers because I think the show is a con, you can try them if you like but beware you will be sucked into their game which basically involves taking money out of your pocket, then again you might win a large amount of cash! ;0)

Answer 1

Ian,

You asked: Twelve times two plus sixteen minus seven

Well in math, the parenthesis would matter.
12 * 2 + 16 - 7 =33
12 * ( 2 + 16 ) - 7 = 209
12 * (2 + 16 - 7) = 132
12 * 2 + (16 -7) = same as the first.
There may be more that I have not considered.

In English, you might think these are ages of people. Two twelve year olds, a 16 and 7 year old. If you add a 16 year old to 2 Twelve year olds, but take a 7 year old out of the mix... no clue what this means. Just thinking out loud...

Your explanation about "the statement 'add all the numbers'" is not clear. I suppose you could add up the possible results and average them. This is a bit out of context. And the people on the internet are equally confused by this.

Answer 2

Twelve times two plus sixteen minus seven.

12 X 2 + 16 - 7

You say add all the numbers; so think

(1+2) X 2 + (1+6) - 7

Which would make this

3 X 2 + 7 - 7

3 X 2 = 6 and 7-7 would cancel each other to make zero,
so the answer would be 6

(I DO get a cut of this prize if you win with this answer, right?)

Have a great day!

Answer 3

12 x 2 + 16 - 7 if you add the numbers you see you get 1 +2+2+1+6+7 making 19 in total

Answer 4

Mathematically its,
its 12 times 2 plus 16 minus 7
= 12*2+16-7
now its standard operation that one should use the division operation then multiply then add and the last one is to subtract..
so we multiply 12 and 2 =24
now add 16 to 24 which makes the total to 40 and finally substract 7 so the final answer is 33


But thinking laterally it can be like...
like 12 months and ummmmmmm
well not getting it...
would you giv me some clues for the question?
my email-id is [e-mail]
plz do reply 'cause even I have got some questions like this..
but this one is a hell of a question.

Answer 5

(1 + 2) x 2 + (1 + 6) - 7 = 6

Answer 6

it depends on how you read the question
12x2+16-7
adding the numbers up gives
either:
12+2+16+(-7)=23
or
1+2+2+1+6+(-7)=5
i'm sure there are a multiple of other ways of reading into the question

Answer 7

132 If you add 2 plus 16 minus 7 multiply by 12 you get 132 or it could be -84 if you have 7 subtract 16 add 2 and multiply by 12

Answer 8

12,2,16,7

Just add the DIGITS 1+2+2+1+6+7 == 19

Answer 9

12+2+16+-7=
14+16+-7=
30+-7=23

my guess is 23

Answer 10

132

you add 2 twelve times and 16 twelve times and subtract 7 12 times.

(12)(16+2-7)