Human Calculator

**Human Calculator** is a challenge of logical intelligence on *Canada's Smartest Person*.

## Description

*Retrieved from CBC.ca*

In Human Calculator a series of math problems appear on the screen. The competitors have seconds to submit their answer before the next question appears.

The equations move fast – so only strongest mathematical competitors can keep up! It’s just you, an equation, and the clock.

## 2012 Special

Human Calculator was the first of the two challenges of logical intelligence and the fifth challenge overall. Gerry Dee explained to the contestants the instructions and that the contestant in 1st place would earn 5 overall points, the contestant in 2nd place would earn 3, the contestant in 3rd place would earn 2, and the contestant in last place would earn 0. He also explained to the viewers how they could play along with the contestants on the Canada's Smartest Person app.

In the first round, the problems and their correct answers, in order, were 12X4=48, 20+73=93, 86-31=55, 36÷3=12, 14X7=98, 37+64=101, 9X15=135, and 62+83=145. Marshall Carroll got 6 correct answers, Peter Dyakowski got 7, Greg Frankson got 4, and Laura Suen got 6.

In the second round, the problems and their correct answers, in order, were 219÷3=73, 52X8=424, 62+97=159, 357-84=273, 184÷4=46, 4^2+13=29, 151-62=89, and 153÷3=51. Marshall got 6 correct answers, Peter got 6, Greg got 2, and Laura got 3.

In the final round, the problems and their correct answers, in order, were 671-314=357, 225÷15=15, 44X44=1936, 312+491=803, √256-7=9, 618÷6=103, 161X4=644, and √144+5^3=137. Marshall got 3 correct answers, Peter got 5, Greg got 2, and Laura got 3.

In total, Marshall got 15 correct answers, Peter got 18, Greg got 8, and Laura got 12. Therefore, Peter was awarded 5 overall points for finishing in 1st place, Marshall was awarded 3 for finishing in 2nd place, Laura was awarded 2 for finishing in 3rd place, and Greg was not awarded any for finishing in last place.

## Episode 104

Human Calculator was the sole challenge of logical intelligence and the first challenge overall. Jeff Douglas explained to the viewers the instructions and how they could play along with the contestants on the Canada's Smartest Person app. Jessi Cruickshank explained to the contestants that the contestant in 1st place would earn 5 overall points, the contestant in 2nd place would earn 3, the contestant in 3rd place would earn 2, and the contestant in last place would earn 1.

In the first round, the problems and their correct answers, in order, were 32+74=106, 6X13=78, 114-63=51, 119X3=357, and 84÷14=6. Yahaya Baruwa got 1 correct answer, Victoria Leenders-Cheng got 4, George Millar got 1, and Mary Rose got 5.

In the final round, the problems and their correct answers, in order, were 1999-721=1278, 183+214=397, 161X4=644, 618÷6=103, and (6^3)+155=371. Yahaya got 0 correct answers, Victoria got 3, George got 0, and Mary got 3.

In total, Yahaya got 1 correct answer, Victoria got 7, George got 1, and Mary got 8. The tie between Yahaya and George was settled by how quickly they answered. Since George answered faster on average than Yahaya did in the challenge, the former finished in 3rd place and the latter finished in last place. Therefore, Mary was awarded 5 overall points for finishing in 1st place, Victoria was awarded 3 for finishing in 2nd place, George was awarded 2 for finishing in 3rd place, and and Yahaya was awarded 1 for finishing in last place.

As for the public, the top performers, by percentage score, were Alex Manea of Waterloo, Ontario, with 96%, David Jones of Midhurst, Ontario, with 92%, Sophy Xie of Surrey, British Columbia, with 91%, Tim Ryan of Thompson, Manitoba, with 91%, and Brent Garrish of Napan, New Brunswick, with 91%. Further, the demographic of individuals aged 50 and over performed the best with an average percentage score of 56%, the demographic of individuals aged 18-49 performed the second-best with an average percentage score of 50%, and the demographic of individuals aged 17 and under performed the worst with an average percentage score of 35%. Also, it was revealed that Jeff himself had received a percentage score of 75%. However, the scores for the public are calculated differently than the scores for the contestants.

### Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Despite sharing a total score of 1, George answered faster on average than Yahaya did in the challenge. Therefore, George and Yahaya placed 3rd and 4th, respectively, for this challenge.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/smartestperson/blog/testing-intelligences-episode-4
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8ofUJ\_9e18&t=3462s
3. ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2563740096 (6:00)