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#1 2012-12-07 20:35:26
- julianthemath
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Find the number!
Find the number with the clues given. You may need to use some math on the way. I start with a problem, and then when people answers, then I make another problem.
Good luck!
I.
My number is:
1) A prime number.
2) Half of ten.
What number is it?
Buy 1
for $1, 
for $0.50, 
for $3, 
for $2.50, 
for $1.25, 
for $0.25, and 
for $5.Come on, buy a smiley!
#2 2012-12-07 20:46:28
- anonimnystefy
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Re: Find the number!
Hi
The limit operator is just an excuse for doing something you know you can't.
“It's the subject that nobody knows anything about that we can all talk about!” ― Richard Feynman
“A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón
#3 2012-12-07 22:58:40
- julianthemath
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Re: Find the number!
Wow, anonimnystefy!
Buy 1
for $1, for $0.50, for $3, for $2.50, for $1.25, for $0.25, and for $5.Come on, buy a smiley!
#4 2012-12-08 11:36:41
- noelevans
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Re: Find the number!
How about the largest number less than 100 that can only be written one way as a difference of
squares?
Writing "pretty" math (two dimensional) is easier to read and grasp than LaTex (one dimensional).
LaTex is like painting on many strips of paper and then stacking them to see what picture they make.
#5 2012-12-08 12:55:41
- bobbym
- Administrator
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Re: Find the number!
Hi;
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#6 2012-12-08 13:31:54
- noelevans
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Re: Find the number!
Yep! Privy to a bit of number theory, eh? Would make Fermat smile in his grave.
How about a base (other than two) for which one can write any positive number in terms of using no coefficients greater than one?
Writing "pretty" math (two dimensional) is easier to read and grasp than LaTex (one dimensional).
LaTex is like painting on many strips of paper and then stacking them to see what picture they make.
#7 2012-12-08 13:57:43
- phrontister
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Re: Find the number!
Hi noelevans,
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#8 2012-12-08 14:30:30
- julianthemath
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Re: Find the number!
Whoops, bobbym! 97 is a prime number, but is 10/2=97?
Buy 1
for $1, for $0.50, for $3, for $2.50, for $1.25, for $0.25, and for $5.Come on, buy a smiley!
#9 2012-12-08 14:33:34
- noelevans
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Re: Find the number!
Hi phrontister!
That's using your noodle and your computer! Turns out to be a great combination for lots of problem
solving. I bet Gauss, Newton, Euler, etc. would have given a lot to have the computational power
that we have today. They might not have left us any math to discover!
One of the characteristics of primes larger than two is that there is only one way to write them as
a difference of squares. Composites always have at least two ways to do it. Each factorization of
a number greater than two corresponds to a difference of squares factorization. For example
15=1x15=8^2-7^2 and 15=3x5=4^2-1^2. 21=1x21=11^2-10^2 and 21=3x7=5^2-2^2.
So a number like 27 which has 2 factorizations has 2 ways to write it as a difference of squares.
Primes and perfect squares are neat, multifaceted numbers.
Have a blessed evening! 
Edit: Oops! Limit the above discussion to odd non-square composite numbers. Even numbers and
odd perfect squares may have fewer difference of square factorizations, especially if we do
not allow zero as one of the numbers. Example 4=4x1=(5/2 + 3/2)(5/2 - 3/2) but these are
not integral. Also 4=2x2=(2+0)(2-0) won't do if we disallow zero.
For 81=9x9 we have no difference of square factorization if we disallow zero.
But 81=1x81=(41+40)(41-40) and 81=3x27=(15+12)(15-12).
for 9=1x9=(5+4)(5-4) but 9=3x3=(3+0)(3-0) won't work if zero is disallowed.
So the square of a prime has only one difference of squares factorization IF we
disallow zero.
Last edited by noelevans (2012-12-08 14:59:47)
Writing "pretty" math (two dimensional) is easier to read and grasp than LaTex (one dimensional).
LaTex is like painting on many strips of paper and then stacking them to see what picture they make.
#10 2012-12-08 15:03:34
- bobbym
- Administrator
Online
Re: Find the number!
Hi;
How about a base (other than two) for which one can write any positive number in terms of using no coefficients greater than one?
There is the Zeckendorf numbers which use Fibonacci numbers as the base. The coefficients do not have to be other than 1 and 0. For instance:
Hi julianthemath;
Whoops, bobbym! 97 is a prime number, but is 10/2=97?
Your problem's answer is 5 , noelevans' problem has the answer of 97.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#11 2012-12-08 16:30:57
- noelevans
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Re: Find the number!
Zeckendorf representations --- VERY INTERESTING! Thanks for pointing them out.
Actually I was just thinking of a base as a single integer >1. I've never seen a SET being a base.
Wiki points out that this property is characteristic of the Fibonacci numbers so no other set of
numbers has this property ascribed to the Fibonacci numbers.
My question is a bit tricky. Any positive integral base greater than 1 could satisfy the conditions I
mentioned. The coefficients could be negative integers (introduced by a many named Colson in
- --
1729) for example 481 = 1x1000 - 5x100 - 1x10 -9x1 = 1519 where the bars above the digits
mean subtract instead of adding. So 481 is written without any coefficients >1.
But if we require that the absolute value of the integral coefficients not be greater than 1 then
base 2 and one other base will satisfy this.
I had this message written earlier and I previewed it but forgot to submit it, so I lost it.
Live and learn!
Writing "pretty" math (two dimensional) is easier to read and grasp than LaTex (one dimensional).
LaTex is like painting on many strips of paper and then stacking them to see what picture they make.
#12 2012-12-08 16:31:39
- phrontister
- Real Member
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Re: Find the number!
Hi noelevans,
Edit: Oops!
Glad I spotted that you'd spotted that. I was close to putting pen to paper about my failure in getting the factorization & difference of squares feature to work with 22 and 72, and was looking at testing some other evens and then more odds.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#13 2012-12-08 18:46:49
- julianthemath
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Re: Find the number!
Got it, bobbym!
Buy 1
for $1, for $0.50, for $3, for $2.50, for $1.25, for $0.25, and for $5.Come on, buy a smiley!
#14 2012-12-08 18:54:54
- julianthemath
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Re: Find the number!
II.
My number is:
1) A 3-digit number.
2) A square number.
3) A composite number.
4) Divisible by 11.
What is it?
Buy 1
for $1, for $0.50, for $3, for $2.50, for $1.25, for $0.25, and for $5.Come on, buy a smiley!
#15 2012-12-08 20:19:54
- bobbym
- Administrator
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Re: Find the number!
Hi;
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#16 2012-12-08 21:17:16
- phrontister
- Real Member
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Re: Find the number!
Hi julianthemath,
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#17 2012-12-08 21:47:47
- julianthemath
- Super Member
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Re: Find the number!
Okay!
Two official answers are:
121
484
Bobbym, Phrontister, you are correct!
bobbym wrote:
484
phrontister wrote:
121
Buy 1
for $1, for $0.50, for $3, for $2.50, for $1.25, for $0.25, and for $5.Come on, buy a smiley!
#18 2012-12-09 03:58:59
- mathgogocart
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Re: Find the number!
121 smilies,right.....LOL
bbcode;.Uhhhhhhhhh im bored.
"Those who feed spambots are spambot conspiarators,and bad people." mathgogocart.
#19 2012-12-09 09:37:07
- bobbym
- Administrator
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Re: Find the number!
Hi;
Bobbym, Phrontister, you are correct!
I like phrontister's answer better. Where that other gets his answer from I can only speculate.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#20 2012-12-09 10:08:10
- phrontister
- Real Member
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Re: Find the number!
bobbym wrote:
Where that other gets his answer from I can only speculate.
9 darts into a dartboard?
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#21 2012-12-09 10:09:21
- bobbym
- Administrator
Online
Re: Find the number!
Maybe, but he probably would miss the board!
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#22 2012-12-09 10:12:39
- julianthemath
- Super Member
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Re: Find the number!
III.
My number is:
1) A 5-digit number.
2) Is ranged from 100^2-109^2.
3) Has a "25" at the end.
What is it?
Tell me the square number and the square root.
Buy 1
for $1, for $0.50, for $3, for $2.50, for $1.25, for $0.25, and for $5.Come on, buy a smiley!
#23 2012-12-09 10:12:58
- phrontister
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Re: Find the number!
I meant thump them in with a hammer...not throw them.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#24 2012-12-09 10:14:46
- phrontister
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Re: Find the number!
Hi julianthemath,
Last edited by phrontister (2012-12-09 10:17:09)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#25 2012-12-09 10:47:38
- bobbym
- Administrator
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Re: Find the number!
Hi;
I meant thump them in with a hammer...not throw them.
That would be more accurate.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.