a puzzler - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2021, 07:16:55 am
content: Here are a bunch of equations to "solve":b + c = 1a + b + c = 7b + c + f + g = 4a + b + c + d + g = 3a + b + e + d + g = 2Of course, this is an underdetermined system, so if you think you have the answer, in order not to spoil it for others just reply with a new equation these variables satisfy - there are several more of them.In approaching this problem my only suggestion is to not be led astray by conventional thinking. To solve the puzzle you'll have to display some ingenuity and out-of-the box thinking. I'm sure the answer will be more obvious to some segments of EE community than others but everyone regardless of their background should be able to get it.

author: capt bullshot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2021, 09:35:22 am
content: CoolTook my a few seconds after reading your text, otherwise I'd just passed it.Won't spoil the answer yet.

author: pardo-bsso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2021, 07:16:09 pm
content: Nice quiz.Last night I was doing a script to create something like this for an old set top box.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2021, 07:37:43 pm
content: e + f + g = 8

author: Picuino
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2021, 08:03:58 pm
content: b + c = 1 a + b + c = 7 b + c + f + g = 4 a + b + c + d + g = 3 a + b + e + d + g = 2 -  -> a = 6 -  -> f + g = 3 -  -> 6 + d + g = 2 -> d + g = -4 -> 6 + b + e + d + g = 1 -> b + e + d + g = -5Combining last 2 equationsb + e = -1 a = 6 b + c = 1 f + g = 3 d + g = -4 b + e = -1 +  -  -  = c - d - e + f = 9Answer ^^^ in white color and 3pt size. Copy and paste on notepad.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2021, 08:12:05 pm
content: Quote from: Picuino on January 02, 2021, 08:03:58 pmOr just click 'quote'Interesting, I have another zero...

author: mathsquid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2021, 08:19:55 pm
content: I'm not getting the puzzle aspect of this. Do the variable names have some deeper meaning? Otherwise I just see a plane of solutions in R^7.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2021, 06:50:43 am
content: a^n+b^n=c^n where n>2

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2021, 10:51:32 am
content: QuoteYes, I can see how these equations would be pertinent for an *old* set top box.QuoteWell, clearly this is not a formal math problem. Tangentially related to calculators, though.QuoteNot quite, but here's another equation: a + c + d + f + g = 5.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2021, 11:13:06 am
content: Given only the data in the first post there are multiple solutions, for one of those e + f + g = 8 is valid.I could post this solution if it would not spoil the thread.

author: lycralout
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 03, 2021, 11:53:45 am
content: b + c + d + e + g = 13

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2021, 12:18:15 pm
content: I've got ita + b + c + f = 7, sometimes.

author: capt bullshot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2021, 01:02:53 pm
content: Ok, this was my solution:

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2021, 07:01:00 pm
content: Quote from: lycralout on January 03, 2021, 11:53:45 amYes, theoriginal problemused upper case variable names, but I chose lower case so you also write "= d", etc. for more letters.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2021, 11:38:44 pm
content: I really tried to give a lot of hints:Quote

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2021, 08:33:51 am
content: Yeah, after knowing the answer I reread that and then it was obvious - as always