OK...It's obvious that the last one was just too easy. (Or maybe the winner is brilliant?) So here is a much tougher math brain teaser. Good luck to all who try.
>>> 255 135 216 514 817 <<<
Is 817 correct or not? Why or Why not?
Please be complete in your answer to win.
2006-10-11 14:40:09 · 8 answers · asked by Smart Dude 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
This is a pure math question. The numbers do NOT stand for area codes or anything else. It is just a much harder problem to solve. (That was the whole idea.) Think hard...someone out there will get it.
2006-10-11 15:38:24 · update #1
Man...some of you are displaying your own insecurities by insulting me after not being able to solve this. Just relax...and be nice. This is a letigimate question with a LOGICAL answer. How can any of you judge me or the question when you have not yet heard the actual answer? There IS an answer and someone smart enough will get it. I will extend the question. Any rude or insulting comments to me will be reported to the staff ASAP. (Zorro...your ok for now.) (The guy before you is not so lucky.) Please just try to think creatively and don't get upset it you don't get it. I am not the bad guy here for trying to help people stretch thier minds a little. Chill out.
2006-10-11 16:05:59 · update #2
OK...A HINT: Yes, 817 is the correct number. Now all you have to do is tell me why?
2006-10-12 11:53:37 · update #3
Thank you, to those of you that are being nice about this. (I know it's a hard one.) Zorro's comments are wrong. There is a pattern hidden in there to solve the puzzle. Keep looking. I will give another hint at a later time.
2006-10-13 15:17:39 · update #4
Another clue for those that have continued to try and solve it...like kevvsworld and James. / Hint = The SAME formula also makes THIS series work. The last group 930 is also correct, but WHY? (It's is for the same reason that 817 was correct.) Look for the correlation. Hope you get it now.
>>> 154 343 112 505 930 <<<
2006-10-15 16:32:49 · update #5
I GOT IT!!!
of the original numbers 255 135 216 514 817
add the first digit of each group to the get the first digit of the 4th group
then..
subtract the subsequent middle digits of the second and third groups from the middle digit of the first group to get the middle digit of the 4th group
and for the third number of the 4th group add the third number from the first two groups, then subtract the 3rd number from the third group
It looks like this
2 + 1 + 2 = 5
5 - 3 - 1 = 1
5 + 5 - 6 = 4
514 is the 4th group of numbers
to get the 5th group...
1 + 2 + 5 = 8
5 - 3 - 1 = 1
5 + 6 - 4 = 7
817 is the 5th number
So, to sum it up. Treat each set of numbers as 3 seperate numbers, x,y,z, and follow the pattern
*treat the numbers in parenthesis as subs or place holders
(1) coincides with the first group of 3 numbers
(2) coincides with the second group of 3 numbers
etc.
x(1) is the first number of group 1
x(2) is the first number of group 2
y(3) is the second number of group 3
and so on
The pattern is:
x(1) + x(2) + x(3) = x(4)
y(1) - y(2) - y(3) = y(4)
z(1) + z(2) - z(3) = z(4)
I'm so glad that I figured this out. It was actually giving me bad dreams. Thanks for the teaser.
By the way, your last set of numbers was not the clue that I needed. It was when you said 930 was a group instead of a number that I figured it out.
2006-10-11 14:53:54 · answer #1 · answered by kevvsworld 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This really isn't a matter of mathematical skill. It's more of a matter of guessing what was this particular person was thinking when he came up with the problem. (Mind reading)
I could come up with an "impossible" brain teaser too for everyone to try to solve just by thinking of some pattern so remote that no one would ever guess it.
Here's one for you smart dude:
12, 83, 33, 24, 8, -16, 42, what comes next?
2006-10-11 15:47:12 · answer #2 · answered by z_o_r_r_o 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
you're pretty smart with the question#2 smart dude in asking for complete answer but I did not do the first one so I cannot solve it not even after 10 minutes trial-n-error. i give up
2006-10-11 14:44:23 · answer #3 · answered by duncefremen 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Two hours and no clue. Tried primes, cubes, squares and even absolute values.
2006-10-13 19:55:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow dude, it's either too late or you got me on this one.
2006-10-11 17:07:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes - they are the area codes for Canadian provinces in reverse alphabetical order
2006-10-11 14:51:08 · answer #6 · answered by hayharbr 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I have No idea
2006-10-15 12:11:29 · answer #7 · answered by diane10594 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
tried for 1 day - sorry I give up - why dont u give the answer yourself? ????
2006-10-11 14:44:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋