Math Is Fun Forum

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,876

bobbym's YOB

Hi all (again)!

I know that some of you will recognise this old puzzle (which remains unsolved) from a couple of other threads.

Well, I thought I should start up a thread of its own because the other references to it are buried in other threads, making it hard to find...which I encountered while searching for it after discovering that the file-host link had broken.

So, here it is again:

Last edited by phrontister (2017-02-25 23:30:18)

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"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

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

I have a question about your "bobbym's YOB" puzzle. In the "Even furthermore still..." paragraph near the end are words "...less a power of a root of twice the digit sum of the PFs...". Does that mean it could be any root and any power?

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“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,876

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi stefy,

Yes...any root and any power. I didn't want to make it too easy!

This is a deliberate roadblock that I'm hoping will wear any would-be solver's teeth right down to the gums!

Also, I've deleted my off-topic posts from cubit's thread to tidy it up, and hope you can do the same. Ta.

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"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

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi phro

I truly hope they are not too big!

Of course, I wanted to do the same, but didn't know if you would agree.

Two more questions:
1)In the solution check it seems that you claim that 3 to some power is equal to a power of 2. Am I missing something?
2)Is your name, when written backwards, slang for a young girl?

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,876

Re: bobbym's YOB

Thanks for tidying that up, stefy. Looks much better now.

Q1: I don't see anything like that in the solution check at all. What makes you think that?
Q2: No, it isn't.

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"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

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

I have no idea where that came from. Must've made it up, sorry. Either way, I will try to do it like it is now. I tried doing it in Mathematica, but so far I haven't any results.

Are you sure? I am very sure it is Dublin slang for a young girl.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

mathaholic

Member

From: Earth

Registered: 2012-11-29

Posts: 3,251

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi phrontister ;

What is YOB?

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Mathaholic | 10th most active poster | Maker of the 350,000th post | Person | rrr's classmate

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi julianthemath

Have you read the puzzle?

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi phro

Last edited by anonimnystefy (2013-05-06 12:38:31)

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,876

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi stefy,

Last edited by phrontister (2013-05-06 13:46:41)

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"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

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,876

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi julianthemath

'YOB' is an acronym for 'Year of birth'.

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"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

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi phro

Last edited by anonimnystefy (2013-05-06 13:45:17)

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi phro

Have you got it?

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,876

Re: bobbym's YOB

No, I haven't.

I just tried to PM you but get this message when I press Send: "Users inbox is full, you can not send you message to the user." (interesting grammar, btw).

Maybe your full inbox has something to do with your mail not getting through. Pity the mailbox is so small - I make sure there's always some room in mine, but that means losing mail that I'd prefer to keep.

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"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

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

I have tried sending it again, but I do not know if you got it.

Also, I have deleted about a half of my inbox and outbox, so I should be able to send and receive messages properly.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,876

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi stefy,

Got it, thanks!

I've just about finished typing up a reply, so I'll send that in a minute.

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"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

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

Okay.

I am not sure how anyone would solve the puzzle without the help of a computer. I barely managed to solve it with the help of M!

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,876

Re: bobbym's YOB

From the puzzle wording (post #1):

...can be solved longhand…IF you have LOTS of time to kill, have LOADS of paper, a new pen, TONS of stickability, can concentrate for HOURS on end, can factorize and want to try to prove that man can beat machine – but solving with the help of a computer is highly recommended.

I've tried a few times to send that PM I promised in my last post, but I keep getting the 'inbox full' message. Maybe the 'inbox status checker' (if there is such a thing) isn't on duty 24/7.

EDIT: Just about to go to bed and tried again, but no dice. I'll try again in the morning.

Last edited by phrontister (2013-05-07 02:31:57)

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"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

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hm, bobbym was able to successfully send me a PM earlier today...

If all fails, you can just hide it and hope no-one will click on the hide box...

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,876

Re: bobbym's YOB

No luck with the PM...still getting the 'user's inbox full' message.

Last edited by phrontister (2013-05-07 15:28:46)

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"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

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi phro

Last edited by anonimnystefy (2013-05-08 04:49:46)

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,876

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi stefy,

Last edited by phrontister (2017-02-25 23:18:04)

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"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

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

Hi phro

Last edited by anonimnystefy (2013-05-08 09:08:06)

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“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,876

Re: bobbym's YOB

Ok...thanks for that, stefy.

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"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

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: bobbym's YOB

No, thank you!

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.