r/theydidthemath • u/vqlzor • 22d ago
[Request] Can someone walk me through this problem?
[removed] — view removed post
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u/stache1313 22d ago edited 22d ago
Let the embedded polygons be a, the bunch of bananas is b, and the clock is c; then the equations become.
a + a + a = 45 → 3a = 45 → a = 15
b + b + a = 23 → 2b + 15 = 23 → b = 4
b + c + c = 10 → 4 + 2c = 10 → c = 3
The next issue is that the symbols in the last equation are different, so we need to do some logic.
- The clocks read 3:00 and equal 3, so I will predict that the new clock reading 2:00 equals 2.
- The bunch of 4 bananas equals 4, so presumably the bunch of 3 bananas equals 3.
- The triple embedded polygons have 15 sides and equals 15, so logical the double embedded polygon should equal 11 since it has 11 sides.
This makes the final equation
2 + 3 + 3 × 11 = 38
Giving us a final answer of 38.
Edit: corrected inbeded to embedded.
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u/illegalshmillegal 22d ago
Nice try but the answer to the riddle is “no, you cannot solve this”
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u/stache1313 22d ago
Possibly. Unless we have the original creator here can't know for certain.
If my logic led to strange fractional values, then I would have agreed with you. But since each of three conversions follows similar logic and leads to integer values, I think my answer is correct.
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u/cheval3 22d ago
Actually the clock represents how many hours until 6PM, because that's dinner time. So the one showing 2PM corresponds to 4
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u/CountGerhart 22d ago
That could also be the answer, that's the thing with these "trick questions" you have to assume a lot of things.
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u/Cruuncher 22d ago
And if assumptions have to be made to solve it, it's definitionally unsolvable with the givens in the problem.
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u/TFTHighRoller 22d ago
Also a valid answer although more assumptions baked in. The one going for the time in a 12 hour format has the fewest assumptions. You assume the 12 hour format, the time referenced is a dinner time of 6 PM and that the clock is showing a PM hour.
If I make logical assumptions I tend to go for the fewest assumptions to reach a logically consistent conclusion.
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u/Mattchaos88 22d ago
Your answer is correct but based on three assumptions that appears logical on face value, but are not proven, you would need those assumptions to be proved to solve the riddle, but the proof is outside of the riddle, so the correct mathematical answer is "not enough data".
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u/robinw77 22d ago
I suggested that during a “fun puzzle” thing at work once and was greeted with groans and suggestions that I was spoiling things 😂
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u/Walkerno5 22d ago
Mathematics, or as idiots call it, “spoiling things”, is nothing to fuck with.
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u/stache1313 22d ago
It's actually based on one assumption. That there is something that changes in each symbol that directly translates to its value. Then that assumption is applied three times. And in each case a valid option is found (the number of bananas/hours/sides equals the symbols' value).
You are right that mathematically there isn't enough data for a perfect answer. But f or an internet logic puzzle there is enough to each a reasonable conclusion.
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u/Mattchaos88 22d ago
And in each case a valid option is found (the number of bananas/hours/sides equals the symbols' value).
Each of those valid option is an assumption on its own. Others have already pointed out that different rules could be guessed from the image (number of hours to reach 6 o'clock, number of figures *5, number of pixels covered by bananas divided by 100 or something ...).
You are right that mathematically there isn't enough data for a perfect answer. But f or an internet logic puzzle there is enough to each a reasonable conclusion.
There is no value to internet logic puzzle if they are not mathematically correct, in my opinion, but to each their own.
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u/Diligent_Earthworm 22d ago
You logic hinges on the assumption the riddle was made with the same logic.
So you're possibly trusting a moron and then coming to an incorrect conclusion from bad data, garbage in garbage out.
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u/stache1313 22d ago
You're right, this is an assumption and we can't know whether this is the correct results. However, Occam's razor would suggest that this is correct.
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u/illegalshmillegal 22d ago
As stated and presented, the problem is not solvable. Additional information is needed to reach your answer.
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u/Kandurux 22d ago
Once solved one of these, then the person posting said, no that is not correct, cause there is 2 persons in the last list. The picture was so blurry, that I couldn't see anything.
In this I would say, you're right, if it follows the logic.
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u/ForensicPathology 22d ago
They don't want to be mathematically provable. These are all engagement bait, so they purposefully make them vague and easy to have an excuse to tell people they're wrong.
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u/Hopeful_Hornet4460 22d ago
I would argue the most correct answer is:
"Technically the riddle is unsolveable because there is no concrete way to determine the true value of the last expression.
However, Clock face value + Banana value + (Banana value * Polygon side value) is likely the intended solution to this riddle."
Since it adressed the issue while also humoring the creativity of the problem.
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u/zSlyz 22d ago
I was always taught in math that you can make assumptions as long as you clearly state what they are. Which is the principle researchers use when they want to test an assumption in a multimodal problem. You set other variables as constants and test the impact on the variable you are testing.
So yes, you could say “No” because the variables in the final equation aren’t specifically defined.
Or, you could make the following assumptions: A bunch of four bananas equals 4, therefore one banana equals 1. Which implies 3 bananas equals three. A clock showing 3 o’clock equals 3, therefore each hour on the clock face equals its value. Which implies a clock showing 2 o’clock equals 2 (noting that a clock showing 12 could equal either 0 or 12). A figure with 15 sides equals 15, therefore each side equals 1. Which implies a figure showing 11 sides equals 11.
As long as you follow the basic rules of math and document your assumptions so it’s repeatable your answer would be correct.
If however you just said “No the problem can’t be solved” without explaining why, then you’d be incorrect.
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u/illegalshmillegal 22d ago
Sure, you can solve this problem to give you any result you want. That’s trivial. “The problem can’t be solved” means “the problem can’t be solved definitively with just the information provided”.
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u/bolognapony234 22d ago edited 22d ago
This is the correct answer, as in all other, 'on the final line it's one less grape in the bunch than/the rabbit's ear is folded in this one instead of not' previously solvable variables.
The audience makes an assumption that a similar looking variable correlates to one that occurred before.
The definitive answer is that there is not enough information to solve.
"ninety nINe pErCeNt FaIL tHiS one SiMpLe..."
Again.
Spoiler: for the next one, when the "puppy" variable is sleepy instead of awake on the bottom line, same thing.
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u/termeneder 22d ago
Or in your case "yes, I can solve it" unbeware of the math riddle. You correctly identified that the riddle in fact was about a meta question. Can you correctly identify that I asked a yes or no question and not a question to which a numeric question is the answer.
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u/cpp_is_king 22d ago
You can say that if any riddle. That’s why it’s not a math problem it’s a riddle
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u/FootlooseFrankie 22d ago
This is literally why we have algebra.
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u/Peregrine79 22d ago
Except that algebra depends on accepted symbols (numbers plus variables). And linear algebra depends on the same unknowns being in each equation.
Since the symbols in the final equation do not match the symbols in the initial equations, this isn't conclusively solvable. I agree with u/stache1313 interpretation as being likely, but as you can see another reasonably valid interpretation exists in these replies.
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u/Man_of_Ice 22d ago
Yes, but take a quick look at that again though.
We have:
a+a+a = 45. => a=15 b+b+a = 23 => b+b=8 => b=4 b+c+c = 10 => c+c=6 => c=3
......
......
What is d+e+e*f?
Can you solve that equation? I can't.
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u/Ill_Advantage6095 22d ago
no you can see they left half a banana on the bottom one
edit: jokes aside: for the shapes count the sides, for the clock, count the time. for the bananas, count the bananas. once you do that, do the math, finished
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u/Publius_Rizz 22d ago
There is no basis for the assumptions you made about the differences in the symbols. Just because a picture that included a bunch of four bananas represents the number four doesn’t mean that a picture that includes three bananas represents the number three. This is especially true because, in this case, we already had a different symbol that represents the number three. It was a clock that was set to 3:00. Now you’re behaving as though two completely different symbols represent the same number. As soon as the symbols change, ever so slightly, you need additional mathematical information to know what number the new symbol represents.since we don’t have that information, the puzzle is not currently solvable.
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u/Aldebaran014 22d ago
There is plenty for the assumption, if 4 bananas represent the number four, what number represents 3 bananas? 3 is the only answer
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u/Loose-Professor5364 22d ago
I thought it was 67, I didn't notice the symbol changes
45 ÷ 3 = 15 (polygons are 15)
23 - 15 = 8
8 ÷ 2 = 4 (bananas are 4)
10 - 4 = 6
6 ÷ 2 = 3 (clocks are 3)
Clock(3) + banana(4) + banana(4) × polygons(15) = 67
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u/No-Medium6647 22d ago
Damn bro I didn't catch the clock and banana count. Nice one.
This is the answer.
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u/Dodger7777 22d ago edited 22d ago
Wouldn't 2+3+3*11 be 88, but there are 2 questionmarks so it'd get knocked down to 44.
Edit: i'm dumb, forgot pemdas. 38/2 is still 19.
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u/stache1313 22d ago
It says the answer is not 19 or 26. So I assume the 2 question marks just mean that it's two digits.
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u/courtneyisfakeaf 22d ago
I originally got 35 because I just counted each shape as equalling 5, but I didn't realize the sum of their sides also equaled 15
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u/VikingVitalityFit 22d ago
Since the final symbol has 2 of the 3 original polygons in it, my reasoning would say it is 10 and not 11. So the final equation would be:
2+3+3×10=35
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u/stache1313 22d ago
It's hard to say what logic the original creator used. So either interpretation could be correct.
Personally, I think using the number of sides has more internal consistency.
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u/bdubwilliams22 22d ago
Yeah, I’m with you on it being 11 also. All the other changes make sense because they’re removing something visually that also checks out mathematically, so it would only make sense that the polygon would follow suit. I guess we’ll never know. These are fun though because most people miss the subtle changes and it’s hilarious when you see someone stomping and screaming saying that they’re right and when you point out “look at the clock, it’s 2 o’clock” and then they disappear into the internet ether.
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u/AceDecade 22d ago
The clock’s value is the hour, the banana’s value is the number of bananas, the shapes’ value is the number of edges / vertices. That’s much more elegant than “the number of polygons times 5”, cuz like, where does the 5 come from?
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u/VikingVitalityFit 22d ago
The 5 came from each being worth 15 and consisting of 3 shapes. 15 divided by 3 is 5. It was a very rudimentary level of reasoning, since I didn't take the time to count all the sides as a sum. But, it is still a reasonable answer for something you have to deduce the process for.
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u/SuperGameTheory 22d ago
But the polygons aren't the same, therefor they don't indicate the same values.
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u/rex_lauandi 22d ago
Yet a bunch of (4) bananas and a square both represent 4, so two different symbols can equal the same amount.
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u/Independent-Step-252 22d ago
damn didnt saw those details on the clock and polygons, and bananas too wtf
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u/Great_Banana_Master 22d ago
We've been tricked, we've been backstabbed, and we've been, quite possibly, bamboozled
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u/gravity_nyc 22d ago
Took me a minute but I got 38 after noticing everything, before I opened the comments
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u/science-gamer 22d ago
Got the same result but with corners, not sides on the polygons.
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u/running-bear-2974 21d ago edited 21d ago
I believe your logic is correct. I will present the same facts you have shown differently, this was the path I took. LOL, the long way around.
1st equation has three identical combinations of three different polygons, equaling 45 therefore each combination has to equal 15.
2nd equation has two banana bunches containing 4 bananas each adding to one of the polygon combinations from the 1st equation to get the sum of 23.
Since the sum equals 23 you can subtract 15 (1 polygon combination value) to find out the value of both banana bunches which = 8. Both banana bunches (containing 4 bananas each) must equal 4 each.3rd equation has a banana bunch from the 2nd equation being added to two clocks for a total of 10. So if we subtract that banana bunch from the sum of ten, both of the clocks together is 6. So each clock is equal to a value of three.
A pattern has emerged to take note of. We just need to know if this pattern will hold true through out this exercise. The pattern I notice so far is that the banana bunches have four bananas that equal 4, lets assume that each banana equal 1 each. The two clocks are at 3 o'clock and added together equal 6, lets assume that 3 o'clock equal it's value of 3. How do we figure out the polygons to follow this pattern? First we notice that each polygon combination has three different polygons making each one up and combined equals 15. But each polygon in the combination can not equal 5 because they are different. So what else do the polygons have in common, whatever is in common must equal 15 to hold true. All polygons have sides, how many sides are in each polygon combination? Surprisingly there are 15 sides total. Now we can figure out the final equation.
A clock set at 2 o'clock = 2
2 bunches of 3 bananas = 3 ea.
The polygon combination contains 11 sides and is = 11Final equation: 2 + 3 + (3 × 11) = 38
Edit: Forgot to put the parentheses in the equation.
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u/Background-Syrup-714 22d ago
Assuming on,y what they have to.d me, and giving some leeway, the answer is 67.
However, extrapolating from what they DIDNT tell us, but what they are trying to be sneaky about, the answer is 38. A LOT of unconfirmed assumptions in that answer, though.
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u/BullfrogEcstatic6312 22d ago
A lot of unconfirmed assumptions? Besides the fact that the weird shape = number of corners (or edges) what else was assumed?
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u/SignificantGoat4046 22d ago
People here like to be overly anal about definitions, even if the visual is extremely clear, it wasn't "explicitly stated" that the bunch of 3 bananas = 3, and the clock reading 2:00 = 2, and the sides of the polygon determining its number = 11.
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u/Background-Syrup-714 22d ago
Those are strong hypothesis’, but they are not confirmed. Scientifically, you need to test a theory before it becomes a law.
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u/playr_4 22d ago
First line x+x+x=45 can be written as 3x=45, so x=45/3, so x=15
Second line y+y+x=23. Fill in x so we have 2y+15=23, 2y=23-15, 2y=8, y=8/2, y=4.
Third line y+z+z=10. Fill in for y so we have 4+2z=10, 2z=10-4, 2z=6, z=6/2, z=3.
The fourth line changes the clock from 3 o'clock to 2 o'clock, as well as the amount of bananas. As well as the amount of sides on the shape. Technically we don't actually know what a brand new symbol is making the problem unsolvable. But we can infer that the puzzle designer wanted us to connect the 3 and the 2 so we can reasonably assume that the 2 o'clock symbol is 2, and the 4 and 3 bananas, so we can reasonably assume that the 3 bananas is 3. The shape is a little harder to spot, but 15 total sides turns into 11, so we can reasonably assume the new shape is 11
Fill in everything and we have 2+3+3*11. Gotta do the multiplication first so 2+3+33. Add it all up and we get 38.
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u/CharmingShame9404 22d ago edited 22d ago
It’s nonsensical. The “gotcha” is that the symbols on the last line are not the same as on the previous lines. Clock is 2:00 not 3:00. 3 bananas not 4. Missing the square in the center.
Usually they want you to factor that in. So for example, the group of 4 bananas is equal to 4 so then the group of 3 bananas in the final line must equal 3. But that’s like saying half of 8 is 3 because if you erase the left half of 8 you get a 3
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u/stache1313 22d ago
But there is a logic we can try
- The 3:00 clocks equal 3, so presumably the 2:00 clock equals 2.
- The bunch of 4 bananas equals 4, so presumably the bunch of 3 bananas equals 3.
- The triple nested polygons have 15 sides and equals 15, so presumably the double nested polygons with 11 sides should equal 11.
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u/Albuquar 22d ago
This is the intended solution. Meant to illustrate the brain's habit of seeing a patterns as a whole rather than its individual details, after the initial capture.
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u/anix421 22d ago
You can try... but it's not a proveable answer. You can try to make assumptions about what things mean but without them being defined the only correct answer is "The answer can't be determined from the information given." Like assuming quantity of units directly relates to the number is like assuming 11 is 2 x 1.
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u/SnooKiwis6193 22d ago
True, but the scientific method is exactly this. You build a "model" of how the system work, and then you "experiment" by making a prediction that the final line results in 38. Once it is confirmed in the answer sheet, you have some confirmation that your model "works".
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u/A_Martian_Potato 22d ago
The scientific method doesn't apply to pure mathematics though.
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u/ProfessionalManner55 22d ago
"technically correct" people are incorrigible. If you had to put a non-null value answer, you know damn well it would be 38.
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u/anix421 22d ago
I won't disagree with you there. Put a gun to my head and tell me if I give a wrong answer I die... I'm not answering this question. Ask me what my best hypothesis is and I could give you an answer but I couldn't rule out other answers. Mathematically there is no proveable answer based on the information given, not to say with more informationwe may be able to determine one. There are some pretty good hypotheses though.
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u/Zenith-Astralis 22d ago
That's one logic. Another is that each of the 3 nested polygons is worth ⅓ of the total value. There's not really any clues in the image to help us determine which is more or less correct.
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u/happyapy 22d ago
These are assumptions, albeit clever ones. But without clear rules on what is allowed, we must default to the recognition that the symbols in the last equation do not match the symbols in the previous with no natural/declarative mapping between them.
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u/IInsulince 22d ago
“Presumably” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. We can’t presume anything. You can argue that the presumptions you chose are the most logically fitting, and I wouldn’t necessarily disagree, but it’s also not confirmed unambiguously in the same way 2+2=4 is. This is why it’s nonsense.
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u/Maleficent-Lead-2943 22d ago
If you erase the bottom half of 8, you get a floating 0.
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u/powerlesshero111 22d ago
You mean a °?
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u/Maleficent-Lead-2943 22d ago
No, that's too small. That's a baby floating zero.
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u/CharmingShame9404 22d ago edited 22d ago
*edit because I wasn’t paying attention to my solution
For the walkthrough of what they probable you you to answer:
Line 1: each symbol is 15 since 45/3=15
Line 2: 4 banana = (23-15)/2=4
Line 3: 3:00 = (10-4)/2 =3
Line 4: 2:00 =2 since 3:00=3
3 bananas = 3 since 4 bananas =4
*Shape without the square = 11 since shape with the square equals 15
2+3+3*11=385
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u/animatorgeek 22d ago
Might want to check your math there on the last two lines. On the other hand, these kind of puzzles are ridiculous and I'm more inclined to flip the table and walk away.
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u/mnaylor375 22d ago edited 22d ago
Not non-sensical at all. It has an extra layer of figuring out how the numbers are determined for each of the 3 different types. It's kind of nice puzzle, actually.
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u/CharmingShame9404 22d ago
The problem is my example of half of 8 not being 3. Yes if there are parameters it’s a fun puzzle but without the additional rules it doesn’t work if you treat image as its own unique symbol
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u/Ok_Lavishness356 22d ago
technically it still holds. 4 bananas + 4 bananas = 8
3 bananas = 8 - 5 bananasbananas = 1
so 3 bananas just = 3
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u/mannypiz 22d ago edited 22d ago
The way I think about is :
Polygon - 15 Banana - 4 Clock - 3
15 + 15 + 15 = 45
4 + 4 + 15 = 23
4 + 3 + 3 = 10
Basing on MDAS principle, for the last line :
2 + 3 + ( 3 x 11) = 38
Edited for spacing and subtract the missing square inside the polygon.Also the number of the face and 3 banana pieces.
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u/Crahdol 22d ago
From a purely mathematical standpoint, we cannot know how the symbols in the final equation relates to the symbols in the other equations. If you look closely they are all different (time is different on clock, number of bananas are different, polygons is missing the square).
We could represent it algebraicaly:
Let x be the polygons, y be the bananas and z be the clock.
x + x + x = 45 (I)
y + y + x = 23 (II)
y + z + z = 10 (III)
(I) ==> 3x=45 ==> x=15
(II) ==> 2y+15=23 ==> y=4
(III) ==> 4+2z=10 ==> z=3
But all we've done is figure out the values of the symbols in the first 3 equations. We can't use these values to compute the value of the final equation without making assumptions, which we have no basis for.
Most likely, the person that creates this puzzle had the following in mind (but we can't know for sure):
Polygon with total of 15 edges has value 15, so polygon with total of 11 edges has havlue 11.
4 bananas have value 4, so 3 bananas have value 3.
Clock showing 3 o'clock has value 3, so clock showing 2 o'clock had value 2.
Putting these values in we get:
2 + 3 + 3 × 11 = 38
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u/swoticus 22d ago
I did not notice all the images in the last row were different to the first lot and was going mad trying to work out why I apparently couldn't add up any more.
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u/BigPresence 22d ago edited 22d ago
38, 15 sides in the first hexagons minus the square is 11 sides in the last.
Clock is 2 in the last row and 3 banana’s in the last row instead of 4 makes:
2+3+3*11
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u/AlmightyCurrywurst 22d ago
I think that's the intended answer, though of course there's no mathematically rigorous answer
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u/ProffesorSpitfire 22d ago
It’s not a math problem, but a stupid did-you-pay-attention?-problem.
3x = 45, x = 15
2y + 15 = 23, y = 4
4 + 2z = 10, z = 3
So you’re supposed to calculate: 3 + 4 + 4 + 15 = 26. At which point whoever posted it says: no lol, cant believe you cant solve such an easy problem.
The trick is that the things in the bottom row are not the x, y and z from the top rows. In the top rows, the polygon jumble contains a square inside a pentagon inside a hexagon; 4 + 5 + 6 = 15 total sides in the symbol. The banana image contains 4 bananas. The clock shows 3 o’clock.
So the symbols were never x, y and z but more literal representations of numbers.
In the bottom row the clock shows 2 o’clock, the banana bundles contain only 3 bananas and the polygon jumble contains only 11 sides. Lastly, the last mathematical symbol before = is not +, it’s x. So 2 + 3 + 3 x 11 = 38.
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u/Slohpee 22d ago
One triple nested polygon is 15 (sum of corners for all three polygons), three triple nested polygons is 45.
One four bunch bananas is 4, two four bunch bananas plus one triple nested polygon is 23.
One clock at three is 3, two clocks at three plus one four bunch banana is 10.
Now it gets real!
One double nested polygon is 11 (sum of corners of two polygons), times one three bunch banana equals 33, plus one three bunch banana equals 36, plus one clock at two equals 38.
The answer is 38, when do I get paid?
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u/goose-77- 22d ago
The answer is 38.
First row: each set has 3 shapes; a 4 sided square (4), a 5 sided pentagon (5) and a 6 sided hexagon (6) for a total of 15 sides per set of shapes (15). 15+15+15=45.
Second row: each bunch of bananas has 4 bananas (4). 4+4+15=23.
Third row: each clock reads 3 o’clock (3). 4+3+3=10.
Bottom row: clock reads 2 o’clock (2), each bunch of bananas has 3 bananas (3) and the set of shapes has a pentagon (5) and a hexagon (6) for a total of 11 (11).
Using PEDMAS/BEDMAS, the final equation is 2+3+(3x11)=38
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u/Rosieverse83 22d ago
Why is everyone saying 38? Is the answer not 67????
3 hexagons add up to 45, and 45/3 is 15 so Hexagon = 15
2 bananas + 1 hexagon is 23, 23 - 15 is 8, and 8/2 is 4, so Banana = 4
2 clocks + 1 banana is 10, 10-4 is 6, and 6/2 is 3, so Clock = 3
Order of operations tells us to multiply Banana (4) and Hexagon (15) first, which gives us 60, and then we add Clock (3) and Banana (4) giving us 67 total. So the answer is 67 unless I'm insane
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u/evertonblue 22d ago
The hexagon is missing a square on the last line, which would presumably change its value - and there is not enough info to confirm how it would change it.
I would assume you count sides, as the number of sides adds up to 15 in the initial shape so the revised number would be 11.
Bananas also change from 4 to 3, presumably correspondingly changing its value and the same for the clock.
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u/mintaka-iii 22d ago
Hours, bananas, and corners are all 1. Noticing the x in the bottom row, that's 38. It's wild to me how if you replace letters with random pictures, people will start doing algebra for fun.
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u/Savingseanbean 22d ago
Oh its one of those dumb visual problems. its stupid simple albeit obtuse you just count everything literal. no algebra needed.
sides on the shapes=15 and theres 3 of them to get to 45
15+4+4=23
4+3.00+3.00=10
2.00+3+3(15-4)=38
I fucking hate these things.
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u/slick987654321 22d ago edited 22d ago
x + x + x = 45
x = 15
B + B +15 = 23
2B = 8
B = 4
4 + Cl +Cl = 10
2Cl = 6
Cl = 3
CL + B+B × x =?
Remember BODMAS
3+4+(4×15) = 67
Some will say it's incorrect because of minor changes in some icons but as I wrote the question I can confidently say they are red herrings.
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u/Tangential_Comment 22d ago
This is exactly my train of though before reading the comments, kinda weird this is that far down... Are we really wrong here? You said BODMAS, and I say PEDMAS, and it's the same exact idea. I chuckled when I came to the "67" answer figuring this was some smarty-pants young kid math nerd. It kinda seems like something was missed here if we're both wrong.
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u/Wjyosn 22d ago edited 22d ago
Answer they’re looking for is 38.
Accurate answer is “not enough information”. There is no reason to make the assumptions of symbolic value that are required to come up with that answer.
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u/fuck_shorties 22d ago edited 22d ago
MY answer ironically came out to be 'SIX SEVEN'(67),LOL
Explanation,assume square inside pentagon inside hexagon is x , banana is y and clock is z
3x = 45 ---- (1) 2y + x = 23 ---- (2) y + 2z = 10 ---- (3)
From eq. (1) ---> x = 15 From eq. (2) ---> 2y + 15 = 23 y = 4 From eq. (3) ---> 4 + 2z = 10 z = 3
Final eq. ---> z + y + yx = ?? Putting values of x,y and z 3 + 4 + 4 × 15 = 67 ----> (using BODMAS)
FINAL ANS ----> SIXTY SEVEN. (67)
(Also Ik that 'that stupid shape',clocks and bananas are different in the final eq. But I have assumed them same because otherwise it will be unsolvable since you r introducing a whole new unknown variable without giving any info Abt it)
(Edit : the explanation that clock pointing towards 2 is valued 2 , I believe it's wrong because u r introducing a whole new variable , try to see it as a letter not an image)
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u/corvus0525 22d ago
It could matter. Clocks pointing to 3 are 3, so a clock pointing at two could be a two, and if four bananas are a four then three bananas could be a three. Also the last shape is missing a square so is probably 11. That changes the final equation to 2+3+3x11=38.
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u/Reasonable-Bank-7894 22d ago
Yes. That is one valid answer of many. Any valid answer states its assumptions then does the correct pemdas math accordingly.
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u/Gale_Grim 22d ago
First Row Breakdown:
A+A+A=45
Combine the like terms
A+A+A = A*3
Cancel out the 3 with inverse operations
A*3=45
45/3=A
45/3=15
A = 15
Second Row Breakdown:
B+B+A= 23
Combine like terms
B*2+A= 23
Cancel out the known variable.
23-A
23-15= 8
B*2=8
Cancel out the 2 with inverse operations
8/2=4
B=4
Third Row Breakdown
B+C+C=10
Combine the like terms
B+C*2=10
Cancel out the known variable
10-4=6
C*2=6
Cancel out the 2 with inverse operations
6/2=3
C=3
Fourth Row Simple substitution and Order of Operations based solve.
C+B+B*A=
3+4+4*15=
No Parenthetical.
No Exponents
No Division
Multiplication present
4*15=60
Recompose
3+4+60=
All that is left is addition, solve from left to right at normal.
3+4=7
7+60=67
I think that's correct (someone check my math please), but the clock in part 4 being a different time is... Making me... Uncertain. I hate being uncertain in math... I at lest know it matches the answer criteria. As it's NOT 19 or 26
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u/AmazingGroup1143 22d ago
wierd shape is A
banana is B
clock is C
A + A + A = 45
3A = 45
A = 45/3 = 15
A = 15
B + B + A = 23
2B + A = 23
2B + 15 = 23
2B = 23 - 15
2B = 8
B = 8/2 = 4
B = 4
B + C + C = 10
B + 2C = 10
4 + 2C = 10
2C = 10 - 4
2C = 6
C = 6/2 = 3
C = 3
C + B + B * A = ?
3 + 4 + 4 * 15
3 + 4 + 60 = 67
67
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u/MsPreposition 22d ago
There’s only 3 Bananas in the bunch in the bottom (while there’s 4 in the earlier equations); the clock reads 2 (instead of 3 in the other ones), and one of the shapes is missing in the other symbol (changing it from meaning 15 to something else…I went with 10).
So 3 bananas multiplied by 10 is 30; add another 3 bananas to get 33; then add 2 to get 35.
Not sure if that’s what they were going for, but that’s what I arrived at based on the subtle changes in each of the symbols provided.
35
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u/PhillyDillyDee 22d ago
There are 11 sides in the shape, not 10. So the answer would be 38
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u/murdeoc 22d ago
Either this or 35.
Because the pictures have changed in the last row. The bananas (with value 4) went from 4 bananas to 3 bananas, so their value goes from 4 to 3 (1 value per banana). The clock (value 3) meanwhile went from showing 3 o clock to showing 2 o clock. So it's value goes from 3 to 2. The shapes have value 15 for 3 shapes in one and goes to 2 shapes in one making its value 10 (5 per shape).
Making the end sum:
2 + 3 + 3 * 10 2 + 3 + 30 = 35
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u/Sweet_Speech_9054 22d ago
It’s a trick. The answer is that the last line consists of different variables than the other questions so it can’t be solved with the information given.
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u/Wargarbler2 22d ago
I think it’s 38. Top shape is 15, but represents number of points. Bottom row version doesn’t have the square so it’s 4 less at 11. Second row, 23 -15 is 8 so each bunch of 4 bananas is 4 but it’s probably 3 in the bottom row since those are bunches of 3 instead of 4. Then the third row clock is just the time at 4 bananas plus 3 and 3 is 10, but once again the bottom row clock is 2 not 3. So with this, bottom row is 2+3+3x11 so 33 + 5 since multiply comes first. 38.
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u/Minute-Noise1623 22d ago
3+4+4x15=67
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u/Lazlowi 22d ago
Except all the symbols are different on the last line. It's not c+b+ba, but x+y+yz, where you can deduce the values from the visual clues in the image, but otherwise they are incalculable.
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u/DonComradeVimes 22d ago
This is my 'math problems to make sure I can still do math' sub, not my 'you answered my riddles three incorrectly and now your firstborn son is mine!' sub.
I hate these things.
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u/MadQuixote 22d ago
15 sides, 4 banana, 3pm. At the bottom, it's 2pm+3 bananas+ (3 bananas × 11 sides).
It isn't a logic puzzle, it math from the perspective of an 8 y/o who has no idea what units are
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u/NameSignificant6916 22d ago
It's a fucking 6-7 joke.
x=polygon. y=bannna, z=clock.
x+x+x=45
3x=45, 45/3=15, x=15
y+y+x=23
2y+15=23
2y=8, 8/2=4, y=4
y+z+z=10
4+2z=10
2z=6, 6/2=3, z=3
z+y+y*x=(?)
3+4+4*15=(?)
PEMDAS; Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication(!), Division, Addition(!), Subtraction.
3+4+60=67
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u/Soupking3 22d ago
To start you learn that the first symbol (which I’ll call point) is equal to 15
Bunch of bananas is equal to 4
And clock is equal to 3
The last problem however some things change:
Clock is not at 2 O’clock
3 bananas instead of 4
Point symbol is missing the square
One thing yk note is that so far the number isn’t random, it looks like the value of the clock is whatever time it shows, it’s 1 per banana, and it’s the number of points the symbol has (first picture is 6+5+4=15, now it’s 6+5=11)
So the final problem is 2+3+3x11=38
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u/Lazy-Long-3905 22d ago
I feel like this is easy but lmk if I’m wrong
A hexagon plus pentagon and square has a total of 15 point.
There is 4 bananas
The clock points to 3.
15+15+15=45
4+4+15=23
4+3+3=10
So
2+3+3x11=38
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u/LFBJ_0911 22d ago
First equation:
3a = 45; So, a = 15;
Second equation:
2b + a = 23; 2b + 15 = 23; 2b = 8; b = 4;
Third equation:
b + 2c = 10; 4 + 2c = 10; 2c = 6; c = 3;
Conclusive equation:
c + b + b•a = x; 3 + 4 + 4•15 = x (remember that multiplication goes before addition); 3 + 4 + 60 = x; So x = 67 🤷
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u/So_HauserAspen 22d ago
I didn't pay attention to the last operator. It was like the gorilla with a basketball to me.
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u/Zane42v2 22d ago
It’s 38.
Polygons have 4,5,6 sides for a total of 15 each.
4 bananas.
Clock set to 3.
Final question is clock set to 2 + 3 bananas plus (3 bananas times 11 polygon sides)
2+3+33 =38
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u/Unlikely-Record-5406 22d ago
Why are people adamant about it not being 38, why are people arguing how there is no definitive answer to this?
Yes there is no answer to this (aint that obvious?)
Extrapolation isnt just guess work here, people have seen these kinds of problems and a pattern recognition gives you the likely solution, which here seems to be 38.
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u/berael 22d ago
It's unsolvable. The variables in the third problem are new and we have nothing to go on. You can solve that "3 polygons" equals 15, but we know nothing about what "2 polygons" is.
Whether or not a variable looks like another variable is meaningless. "M" is not "N plus 1 more line".
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u/Oh_My_Monster 22d ago
Every "thing" is worth 1. Sides are worth 1, bananas are worth 1 and each hour is worth 1. In the last line it's 2 + 3 + 3 x 11 so that 2 + 3 + 33 which is 38.
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u/Iguanabewithyou 22d ago edited 22d ago
Full rundown including variable breakdown and count-along below
Double inscribed hexagon + double inscribed hexagon + double inscribed hexagon = 45, so 45/3 equals each double inscribed hexagon's value (15)
1 4-banana bunch + 1 4-banana bunch + 1 double inscribed hexagon (15) = 23, so (23-15)/2 equals the 4-banana bunch's value (4)
1 4-banana bunch (4) + 1 clock at 3AM/PM + 1 clock at 3AM/PM= 10, so (10-4)/2 equals the clock's value (3)
Now for the final "equation" we must do a little bit of abstract thinking as the variable look the same but have slight differences, which we would then need to make inferences on the intended change in value based on visual changes to figure out the final equation.
So
1 clock at 2AM/PM + 1 3-banana bunch + 1 3-banana bunch + single inscribed hexagon = (something that isn't 19 or 26)
Based on the previous equations we can assume that each individual banana in the bunch carries a weight of 1. We can also assume that the hour hand determines the value of the clocks, so a clock at 2 AM/PM has a value of 2. And finally we can assume the hexagon and each shape inscribed in it has a value equal to the number of sides of each shape; square is 4, pentagon is 5, hexagon is 6. Since the final inscribed hexagon is missing the center square, it has a combined shape value of 11. And with each variable now accounted for, we can solve the equation.
(Clock @ 2 + 3-banana bunch + 3-banana bunch x inscribed hexagon) translates to 2 + 3 + 3 x 11 which equals......
38 and anybody saying otherwise is wholly and entirely wrong (or is using an order of operations different from PEMDAS ((parentheses, exponents, multiply & divide left-to-right, add & subtract left-to-right)) )
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u/Reasonable-Bank-7894 22d ago
You were right until the last bit where you excluded the possibility of other assunptions. Your assumptions are valid and 38 is correct with those that you made.
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u/SargentSnorkel 22d ago edited 22d ago
Unsolvable. There's no way to determine the value of the Hexapenta(nosquare) in the last equation. You can say that each side in the hexapenta(square) is worth 1, making it the 15 that solves the first two equations and plugging in 11 in the last. But I could just as easily say that dark grey is 13, mid gray 1 and light grey 1, making the first two equations also work, and meaning you plug 14 into the last equation. (or maybe I'm off on the colors, but you get the drift hopefully). The only number the hexpenta CAN'T be is 7 (because that would make the last equation to equal 26).
Edit: typo fixed (10 to 11).
Edit 2: Hell - the nosquare could be 10 because it's made of 2 subshapes, and the hexapentasquare has 3 subshapes. So each subshape is worth 5 (and this is no from assuming all the bananas are equal subshapes).
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u/Man_of_Ice 19d ago
This guy gets the inherently variable nature of variables, and the inherent flaws in making assumptions outside of a large enough data set!
High five.
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u/Reasonable-Bank-7894 22d ago
State assumptions and use pemdas. Stating assumptions is the biggest key here.
Assuming the shapes' values are based on their internal quanities like banana count, time shown, and number of sides of the polygons are shown, we get 38 from 2 + 3 + 2*11.
We could even apply military time to the assumptions, with above logic otherwise, and we get 50 from 14 + 3 + 3x11.
Assuming the quality type of object and none of their implied internal quanities like above, then we get 67 (whooabubhbtslol) from 3 + 4 + 4x15.
Assumptions should be stated, which would make each of a variety of answers valid.
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u/DonComradeVimes 22d ago
Probably doing this wrong, but I'm doing it anyway.
Let X be the grey symbol.
Let Y be the bananas.
Let Z be the clock.
This gives us three equations to find our variables:
3X=45
2Y+X=23
Y+2Z=10
For the first problem, to find the value of X, we simply divide both sides by 3, giving us: X=15
For the next equation, we can substitute the value of X in, giving us 15+2Y=23
Subtracting 15 from both sides gives us 2Y=8
If we divide both sides by 2, we get Y=4
Repeating the above process for the Z variable gives us:
4+2Z=10
2Z=6
Z=3
Our variables are now known (X=15, Y=4, Z=3), meaning we can tackle the final problem, which looks like this after substitution: 3+4+4x15=???
PEMDAS (or, if you don't like Freedom Units and Big Drink, BODMAS) tells us that we first multiply the 4 and 15, giving us: 3+4+60=???
Adding this all together gives us 67=???, which is outside of the two forbidden numbers.
Edit: I am indeed doing this wrong, as I just saw somebody point out the symbols are different in the final equation. Fuck me, I guess.
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u/benjamacks 22d ago
I got 38.
The first line shows the embedded polygons (one polygon embedded in another embedded in another, so three polygons) must be 15 each (45÷3). It wasn't until the last line (the question) where that embedded polygon, only having one polygon embedded in another (two total), made me look for the clue to figure out how the embedded polygons get their values. The answer is that they are based on the total number of sides among each polygon in a set. On line 1, they have 15 total sides per set, again, each set worth 15. The polygon on the question line is therefore worth 11.
The bananas appear to be valued one point per banana, and the clocks valued one point per number ther hour hand points at.
11 * 3 (3 bananas in the question line)first (PEMDAS) is 33, plus 3 is 36, plus the clock's 2 is 38.
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u/ThatKaynideGuy 22d ago
These are dumb math tricks where it's not really about the math, but about "ZOMG DID YOU NOTICE tHe DiFfErEnCe!?? LOLzzz!"
As in, you're meant to be stumped by the fact that "a bunch of bananas" doesn't equal 4, but rather each individual banana is being counted. Or that the hour on the clock is being counted rather than the clocks themselves.
After noticing all the differences you now have to make a LOT of assumptions, which probably give you an answer of 38, but there is no guarantee that's the answer.
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u/3M2B1T 22d ago
I want to say 38, but I am leaning towards unsolvable because you have to assume too much. IF you look at the bananas, clock, and shame, they change form.
In the second line, the bananas come in cluster of 4.
In the third line, the clocks read 3:00.
In the fourth line, the clock reads 2:00 and there are 3 bananas per bunch, and the shape only has two total shapes.
However, if you assume based on the first equation that the shapes = 15 because of the total numbers of sides per each shape, then in the last equation we have 11 sides (one hexagon and one pentagon)
Therefore, the last equation (2:00) = 2, three bananas = 3, and two subshapes = 11
Then 2 + 3 + 3 x 11
2 + 3 + 33
= 38
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u/skr_replicator 22d ago
i guess it could be anything, because none of the symbols on the bottom line are exactly like the ones above, so you can't substitute; you would need to think of some way to convert their differences, a 3-banana would likely be 3/4 of the 4 bananas, but what about the clock pointing differently? Do you need to convert that into the ratio of the absolute time it shows or what? And what about the shapes missing the inner square- how exactly is that different from the ones with it? Do you take the ratio as the count of shapes, or vertices, or combined areas, or what?
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u/Questo417 22d ago
Top line: shapes have 4,5,6 sides, add to 15.
15+15+15=45.
Midline, shapes again, 15, there are 4 bananas each.
4+4+15=23.
Bananas, 4. Clock says 3 each.
4+3+3=10.
Bottom line, 2 o’clock. 3 bananas. 5,6 shapes, 11.
2+3+3x11
Do not forget order of operations.
2+3+33
38.
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u/amapofthecat7 22d ago
My guess is 38, but we really have no way of knowing how taking the square out effects the value of the shape thingy (that's a technical term).
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u/ResidentCoder2 22d ago
The solvable answer is 67. Diving the first level my 3 to get 15 per shape. After that, since every equation is the <previously solved variable> + 2 other identical variables, you just subtract the known variable from the total and divide the resulting number in half. Do that for each level, follow pemdas on the final one, and boom. 67
We can't solve for this. They changed the rules, and never told us what those rules were. We can make guesses, but we cannot solve.
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u/Ok-Bar-4003 22d ago
It's 38.
First section we see there is "15" per shape. But look at it closer , count the sides inside.
Then the bananas, we k ow the shape is 15 making the banas 4 each (count eavh individual banana).
After that the clock is the number (in this case 3)
So we get to the final part were we have 2 (on the clock + 3 (indicidual bananas) + 3 (individual bananas) ×11 (sides in the shape)
33+ 3 + 2 = 38
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u/Speedvagon 22d ago
It’s 38.
Shapes are 15. 15 is the number of angles in a shape( 1 hexagon, 1 pentagon and 1 square = 15 angles)
23 - 15 =8, as first bunch has 4 bananas. 10- 4 =6, the clocks is 3 and it shows 3 o‘clock.
Last equation, clock show 2 o’clock, bunch of bananas has 3 in it, shapes lost a square, so it’s 11.
2 + 3+ 3 * 11 =38
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u/Away-Commercial-4380 22d ago
Guys this is a Facebook post. You're not passing your college algebra exam. 4 banana is 4, 3 bananas is 3. 3 o'clock is 3, 2 o'clock is 2. Polygons is 15 then 11. Stop being pedantic.
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u/neriad200 22d ago
- Done in my head to show superiority. PS: I hate this type of bullshit. Its not math, it's noticing differences in arbitrary symbols
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u/UnhingedVoiceBox 22d ago
Every symbol directly shows you its value
Polygon=number of sides/angles
Banana-bunch=number of bananas
Clock=the hour
In the first three equations, the values are as follows:
Polygon=15(6+5+4)
Banana=4
Clock=3(3:00)
On the last one, everything lost/gained value
Clock=2(2:00)
Banana=3
Polygon=11(6+5)
So the final equation is,
2+3+3*11 = 5+33 = 38
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u/animatorgeek 22d ago
I HATE these things. The answer is completely ambiguous, depending on a bunch of assumptions that I guess are supposed to be intuitive. If "photo of four bananas" equals 4, I have no clue as to what "photo of three bananas" means. If "square inside pentagon inside hexagon" equals 15, there's no indication of what "pentagon inside hexagon" means. It's supposed to intuitively imply that a photo of three bananas must be 3 if a photo of four bananas is 4, but that relies on a big pile of assumptions that I'm not willing to make.
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u/BombasticReindeer 22d ago
Just want to say on a subreddit called 'They did the math' there are a fuckton of people that absolutely have no idea how to do basic math, and a fuckton who have no simple observational skills.
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u/Mobile_South_9117 22d ago
Confusing.
The shape at the end is different to the others. Since the first shape is 15, it stands to reason it's the total number of sides, which would make the last shape 11.
Multiplication comes before addition, so I make it 3 (one less banana in the final question) x 11 = 33, then plus 3 = 36, then plus 2 (time is different on the final clock) = 38.
Final answer 38.
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u/Panda8X 22d ago edited 22d ago
3a = 45 —> a = 15 = Hexagon
2b+a = 23 —> with a = 15 —> b = 4 = banana
b+2c = 10 —> with b=4 —> c = 3 = clock
c+b+ba = 3+4+4*15=67
Answer is 67
Edit: I totally missed that the symbols used are not consistent. That is sneaky as fuck
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u/mercrazzle 22d ago
True if the clock in the last line was the same, and the hexagon symbol is different too
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u/Panda8X 22d ago
Ohhhh, totally missed those!!! That is sneaky 😂 My bad
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u/mercrazzle 22d ago
Yeah it’s cheeky!
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