Math Is Fun Forum

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Hi;

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

Hi

---

“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.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Hi;

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

Another problem! (unfortunately, I still do not have the answer to this one)

The mathematician from the other problem was still waiting in line when he noticed that in the line was also the old lady's husband, right behind his wife. They bought seats next to each other and want to sit together during flight. So, wherever the old lady sits, he will sit right next to her. The seats are marked 1 to 100, so, if she sits on the seat 46, he will sit either on 45 or 47 and if she sits on the seat 1, he will be sure to sit on seat 2. The mathematician would now like to recalculate his odds of sitting in his own seat. Can you help him do 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.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Hi,

I think

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

Hi gAr

---

“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.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

Hi

---

“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.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Hi,

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

Hi

---

“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.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

Hi

---

“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.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Hi,

Last edited by gAr (2013-08-23 05:52:42)

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

Hi

---

“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.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Hi,

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

Hi

---

“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.

gAr

Member

Registered: 2011-01-09

Posts: 3,482

Re: What do you think?

Hi,

---

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"  - Buddha?

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

New problem:

It is well known that A hates computers and all forms of computation. He devises a problem to stump his colleagues on the panel whom he also hates.

A says) B and E this is for you but the rest of you can take a shot at it to. He smugly describes the problem:

I am thinking of a polynomial

C says) What degree?

A says) I will not tell. Now let me finish. This polynomial P(x) has all positive coefficients.

D says) Coefficients?

A says) Yea, positive ones. You geniuses of computation are to tell me what they are.

E says) Do we get a couple of chances?

A says) You sure do, hahahaha. I will initially put 1000000 dollars into the pot that I will pay. Each guess cuts the amount I will pay in half.

B says) So if it takes me 3 guesses you will pay me 125000 dollars?

A says) Correct a mundo B. Did you fire up your mathematica to get that answer? But dream on, I only have 50 dollars in the bank.

C says) That is not enough to cover if I get it in say 4 or 5 guesses.

A says) You are right C but you and the rest could not get it in 50 guesses! I ain't going to have to pay a dime. But just in case I do, the minimum number of guesses is so large 50 bucks is plenty.

E says) If I ask you what P(n) is will you tell me?

A says) Hahaha sure, ask what P(n) is as many times as you like. But each question counts as a guess and I cut the amount in half.

B and E huddle up and C and D huddle up and furiously try to guess the coefficients.

A smirks and lights his pipe convinced he is safe.

Question: Can you get A's money before they do and how much can you get?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

Are we supposed to ask you for the P(n)'s or to find the minimum number of guesses?

Last edited by anonimnystefy (2013-09-26 10:11:17)

---

“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.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

The minimum number of guesses, you want to cost A as much of his dough as is possible. Remember B,C,D and E hate him as much as he hates them.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

C and D hate A?

---

“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.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

Yep, they just told me that. It seems they have just been acting that they do not.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

So, they have which values of P?

---

“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.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: What do you think?

They have no values of P.

Yea, positive ones. You geniuses of computation are to tell me what they are.

He must mean the coefficients?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: What do you think?

I meant, for which numbers x does he have P(x)?

---

“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.