Tuesday, May 15, 2012

MATHEMATICAL PUZZLE

Here is a mathematical series.  Calculate the next number in the series:

18  23  28  34  42  50  59  66

First correct answer gets congratulations [I don't have any coffee mugs with my face on them.]

{Fortunately, when I reveal the answer, people will not be able to come after me and beat me with sticks.]
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15 comments:

  1. ClarkAspenMay 15, 2012 at 6:35 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. ClarkAspenMay 15, 2012 at 6:36 PM

    73?

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  3. Robert Paul WolffMay 15, 2012 at 6:58 PM

    nope. But close. I should have added, Explain your answer.

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  4. MMay 15, 2012 at 9:13 PM

    72. This is not math, it's logistics!

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  5. Superfluous ManMay 15, 2012 at 9:50 PM

    You can also google the sequence. I'm not going to give it away but the internet does provide quick answers. Bus routes for example. But if someone legitimately got it I don't want to take anything away either.

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  6. Andrew Lionel BlaisMay 15, 2012 at 10:00 PM

    The next street on the bus line that you took as a kid to get to your violin lesson?

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  7. Andrew Lionel BlaisMay 15, 2012 at 10:06 PM

    That would be 79, the Broadway line.

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  8. Jacob T. LevyMay 15, 2012 at 10:53 PM

    18 23 28 34 42 50 59 66

    6x3-0, 6x4-1, 6x5-2
    7x5-1, 7x6+0, 7x7+1
    8x7+3, 8x8+2, 8x9+1

    I get 73. Trios in which the first multiplicand remains constant, the second multiplicand goes up by one each time, and a figure is added that changes by one each time.

    Now googling...

    Bah humbug. Once upon a time I would have recognized that sequence, but there's no amount of staring at it tonight that would have gotten me there.

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  9. ajrosaMay 15, 2012 at 11:10 PM

    71?

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  10. JCEMay 15, 2012 at 11:25 PM

    subway stops on the Broadway IRT line in Manhattan

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  11. JCEMay 15, 2012 at 11:25 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. ajrosaMay 16, 2012 at 2:05 AM

    In terms of an explanation, I was following a pattern in ascending and descending order: 5,5,6,8,8,9,7,5 (1,2,1,2)?

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  13. the pied cow blogMay 16, 2012 at 6:23 AM

    GONG!!! Misleading question. There was nothing to calculate.

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  14. Superfluous ManMay 16, 2012 at 8:39 AM

    The full sequence is actually:

    Find the next number in the sequence
    "14, 18, 23, 28, 34, 42, 50, 59, 66, 72, 79, 86, 96, 103, �"

    You can read the answer here on this link if you scroll down far enough, it comes with a great deal of extra information on different science and math topics as well.

    http://www.patrickkellogg.com/school/papers/infotheory/

    Technically, I think calling it a mathematical sequence or a mathematical puzzle is somewhat disingenuous. But it is good for a laugh.

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  15. MMay 17, 2012 at 7:50 AM

    According to this story there may be some mathematical structure there after all. http://science.slashdot.org/story/12/05/17/0134254/worlds-subways-share-common-mathematical-structure

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