The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-04

The mail carrier on the Journal
route has struck. He says he is hired
by the government to deliver mail, not
mountains. He is no animated dray,
nor yet Is he a living freight car. Yet
that's how he feels when he staggers
and lays down his tremendous burden
of solutions to the great problem. The
editor has a few feelings too, but is
becoming rather callous now. Especial
ly is he cheered today by some very
clever answers. 1t is true that they
are mostly wrong, but they are inter
.esting. Some Of the following, at least,
are incorrect:
The Solar System in Danger.
10 the Skidoo Problem Editor:
1t Is to be regretted that you ever care
less enough to be led into this "skidoo'' puzzle
example that is attracting so much notice in
your paper 1t is dangerous thing. Probably
you had no idea Of what it might lead to- =
So far as the real answer in figures is con-
eerned, that has already been sent in correctly
by Louise Martin, TO Fifth street s., in the
Nov. 20 issue. The 1ady's figures obtained
by multiplying % by itself % times, and the
result, 4so25o 1853 996 sol s7e 100 1855 1866 943 o4
Is correct If she did the work correctly, which
she probably did. The same conditions exist in
regard to any prime number-that is, any num-
Der that is not diyisible by, any other number If
3 be multiplied by itself times the result,
81, Is divisibe by 2 with a remainder Of one,
and the product Of 8 multiplied by itself
times gives 1 for q remainder if divided by
either 2, or 4. The product Of multiplied
by itself times gives 1 for remainder If
divided by 2, 3, f. 5 or 8, and the same rule
applies with IL, 10, II. 10, %, 49,. 81 or any
tho number OF pennies correctly stated in the
Martin answer and, writing 1t in round num-
bers, YOU have $50 nonill:ons. Now 400 pen
nics weigh little more than three pounds,
90 that $50 Eonillion pennies would weigh
three nontlllon pounds. Or 1000 octilion pounds,
OF 800 sept:llion tons, or octilion 500 sep
tflton tons. Now this earth of ours only
weighs In round numbers six sextillion tons.
Six sextillion tons is contained in octillion 500
septillion tons just 25o,oo0 times, so that the
weigh IN round numbers go, 900 times as much
as the world. Now you see where well be at
II people should get sufficiently interested In
this example to test it by actual count Of
the pennies. The pennies would weigh five.
sevsnths,, as much the sun anu about $50
times as much as all the planets put together,
earth would actually disrupt the workings of
the solar system and throw it entirely out of
gear. The clockwork would be ruined and would
to ITSELF the and the nearer planets ana.
1t is altogether likely. the sun and earth them:
selves would come together. drawing the re-
manning planets after them and the entire solar.
4 system DE destroyed In one stupendous bonfire
OF worlas 1t is awful to contemplate.
!. AGAIN. ga; suppose the boy employed all the men
z IN the world 20 count the pennies. Take the,
number OF men to be 50O,0oO, 600 and let them
each work ten hours a day, counting the ner-
mes at the rate Of 100 to a handful and ten
hantfals TO the minute, and in one year they
would only count 100 ouadrillion pennies, and
at this rate 1t would take them allowing them
40 40, holidays except Sunday, fully four quad
riiiion years lust to count them over once,
without allowing Il second count to correct pos
Side mistakes. Perhaps you have 10 idea what
terribly long time that would be. The very
fopmost guess on the age Of the world made
sipce the discovery of radlum, multiplied pre-
ylous suesses Immensely, IS that it is 500 co., !
times 500. 100000, so that it would take ali
these busy men, even il none of them eyer
went on strike, 100000 times as long as
the widest guessers guess the world has existed
Just to count the pennies over once.
am very sorry you ever went into iris
sind wish that you would call it off,
4 lie sueur Tyre.
Chance to Have Salary Raised.