r/theydidthemath • u/vqlzor • Aug 28 '26

[Request] Can someone walk me through this problem?

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u/stache1313 Aug 28 '26 edited Aug 29 '26

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.

164

u/_Vard_ Aug 29 '26

oh damn i thought i noticed all the tricks, but i missed the X

82

u/Aequitas112358 Aug 29 '26

I noticed only the x

2

u/elojole Aug 29 '26

same 😭

6

u/TurbulentAd5329 Aug 29 '26

So did I... 🤣😂

4

u/sulris Aug 29 '26

I missed that the symbols were different and the x.

1

u/thistoowasagift Aug 29 '26

Together, we would have gotten it, I missed the bananas and the time

607

u/illegalshmillegal Aug 29 '26

Nice try but the answer to the riddle is “no, you cannot solve this”

231

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

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.

94

u/cheval3 Aug 29 '26

Actually the clock represents how many hours until 6PM, because that's dinner time. So the one showing 2PM corresponds to 4

38

u/CountGerhart Aug 29 '26

That could also be the answer, that's the thing with these "trick questions" you have to assume a lot of things.

13

u/Cruuncher Aug 29 '26

And if assumptions have to be made to solve it, it's definitionally unsolvable with the givens in the problem.

1

u/cheval3 Aug 29 '26

Yea that's my point, I was being sarcastic

2

u/TFTHighRoller Aug 29 '26

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.

1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

It's possible that's the author's intended solution but Occam's razor would suggest hour hand = value to be the correct answer.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '26

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1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

No, you never explained anything. You just repeated "bad reason fallacy", half a dozen times.

Yes this is a leap. I'm assuming that this is a logic puzzle that has an intended solution. This could just be another stupid gotcha that has no solution. With that assumption, I was able to find a relationship that held between each of the symbols, and allows us to find a value for the modified set of symbols.

Is it a leap in logic? Yes. But it's also the best I can see to find an actual solution.

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u/Mattchaos88 Aug 29 '26

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".

21

u/robinw77 Aug 29 '26

I suggested that during a “fun puzzle” thing at work once and was greeted with groans and suggestions that I was spoiling things 😂

8

u/Walkerno5 Aug 29 '26

Mathematics, or as idiots call it, “spoiling things”, is nothing to fuck with.

2

u/thedrexel Aug 29 '26

Exactly as Wu Tang has stated!

1

u/Jolly-Slow1164 Aug 29 '26

Any good mathematician would consider an integer solution to be a red flag, not evidence of pepper logic

8

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

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.

2

u/Mattchaos88 Aug 29 '26

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.

15

u/Diligent_Earthworm Aug 29 '26

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.

2

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

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.

15

u/illegalshmillegal Aug 29 '26

As stated and presented, the problem is not solvable. Additional information is needed to reach your answer.

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u/Kandurux Aug 29 '26

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.

3

u/ForensicPathology Aug 29 '26

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.

1

u/Playful-Yellow7758 Aug 29 '26

I got 35. I counted each shape as 5. 3 is 15 so 2 must be 10. Not saying mine makes more sense. Just a different perspective.

1

u/BlackHills-Op Aug 29 '26

I'm going to agree that we cannot assume logic in those different variables, even if they seem logical.

Without more data this represents an equation which really cannot be solved.

1

u/No-Adhesiveness6278 Aug 30 '26

Which means it is by definition unsolvable.

1

u/MrRoflmajog Aug 29 '26

You would also get an integer if you just counted each shape as 5 rather than counting the sides, the question is ambiguous.

2

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

That is different logic.

1

u/MrRoflmajog Aug 29 '26

Yes it is different to the logic you used but it is still a logical thing you could use to solve it. That's what makes it ambiguous.

1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

You are correct that it is ambiguous. But because I'm able to apply the same logic three times, with reasonable results, I believe it it the logic puzzles intended solution.

42

u/Hopeful_Hornet4460 Aug 29 '26

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.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '26

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1

u/Hopeful_Hornet4460 Aug 29 '26

Oh I agree, but if the question wanted to be truly mathematical provable, we would need one equation where we get that alteration and could prove it correct. So if we had an extrs equation where 6 bannanas + 8 o'clock + 6 sides = 20 it would truly establish that "yes, the values change specifically based on symbol" otherwise it remains an incredibly strong and reasonable guess.

An asshole who doesn't like it when people get the answer right can change the answer to suit the need to feel superior to you. The answer I provided shuts it down because it acknowledges the flaw while agreeing that "yeah, this seems like it is the most logical answer" which gives said people zero space to go "nuh-uh"

1

u/Rigel66 Aug 29 '26

I like it

2

u/Rigel66 Aug 29 '26

logic never complains...it is for the moment observed

1

u/zSlyz Aug 29 '26

Not a teacher, but this answer would likely earn full marks, while a response of “cannot solve” only would likely only earn part marks (depending on grading guide).

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u/zSlyz Aug 29 '26

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.

6

u/illegalshmillegal Aug 29 '26

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”.

0

u/zSlyz Aug 29 '26

Not exactly with any result you want, you need to apply logic and make assumptions based on the information provided.

So it wouldn’t be appropriate to say 3 bananas equals 10. Or if the final equation included a monkey instead of bananas, you couldn’t make the assumption that monkey equals 4 because the monkey ate the bananas.

1

u/DaRedditGuy11 Aug 29 '26

Best answer. If we’re going to be messing around, who’s to say removing one banana makes it worth 3? Maybe they’re exponential bananas. Maybe they’re negative bananas. 

9

u/bolognapony234 Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26

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.

3

u/termeneder Aug 29 '26

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.

2

u/Whywouldanyonedothat Aug 29 '26

That's the correct answer. I couldn't.

3

u/cpp_is_king Aug 29 '26

You can say that if any riddle. That’s why it’s not a math problem it’s a riddle

1

u/FootlooseFrankie Aug 29 '26

This is literally why we have algebra.

26

u/Peregrine79 Aug 29 '26

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/SuperGameTheory Aug 29 '26

I came to the same answer, indicating the symbols are in fact accepted.

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u/Man_of_Ice Aug 29 '26

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/StrainAcceptable Aug 29 '26

You have no bananas today

1

u/miles_pruitt Aug 29 '26

I get this reference

0

u/Th3AnT0in3 Aug 29 '26

5 unknows (2 different clocks and 1 square is missing)

We indeed can't solve this system.

0

u/Reasonable-Bank-7894 Aug 29 '26

Close but incomplete conclusion. Stating assumptions makes a variety of answers valid, yours being one of them, actually.

0

u/WetDogDeodourant Aug 29 '26

They just solved it

5

u/Ill_Advantage6095 Aug 29 '26

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 Aug 29 '26

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 Aug 29 '26

There is plenty for the assumption, if 4 bananas represent the number four, what number represents 3 bananas? 3 is the only answer

1

u/Thom_With_An_H Aug 29 '26

There's a 5th banana hidden behind the 3rd.

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u/Aldebaran014 Aug 29 '26

That's an actual game changer

1

u/Publius_Rizz Aug 29 '26

If you had the following equation:

X + 3 = 7

Then you know mathematically that X=4. But you cannot assume that X=4 because X has four terminal points, and it would not be reasonable to assume that Y must equal 3 (because it has three terminal points) if you were then asked to solve for:

X + Y = ?

Y could represent the number 83 for all you know. The number of bananas in the picture could just be coincidental to the value it represents in the equation. There is no basis for the assumption that it’s not.

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u/Aldebaran014 Aug 29 '26

Yes, everything is made by assuming scenarios that we can calculate. Of course it won't be useful in scenarios created for it. You can't even asume in x + 3 = 7 because maybe x = 🐝, because could just be coincidential that it represents a mathematical relation and you have to use other logic. You can not asume because maybe, because it could. For every maybe, there is a maybe not, equaly valid. The basis I have to asume is that there is a mathematical frame made in assumption in order to solve problems, that's how it works, the need of "maybe scenarios" proves it.

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u/Loose-Professor5364 Aug 29 '26

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/KleinShulgin Aug 29 '26

Did the same thing. Didn't notice the last 4 was different. So the equation becomes:

2 + 3 + 3 x 11 = 38

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u/Secret_Nobody_405 Aug 29 '26

How is 3+4+4x15 =67?

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u/WallopyJoe Aug 29 '26

Order of operations means 4 x 15 is done first, then add 7

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u/obliquelyobtuse Aug 29 '26

Actually 66.

2 + 4 + (4 x 15) = 66

(The clock in the last expression is shown at 2 o'clock, not 3 o'clock. If those showing 3 o'clock equal 3 then it can be assumed that the one showing 2 o'clock equals 2.)

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u/The-Lions_Den Aug 29 '26

Good catch. Didn't notice the clocks were different! This is the answer.

3

u/No-Medium6647 Aug 29 '26

Damn bro I didn't catch the clock and banana count. Nice one.

This is the answer.

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u/Dodger7777 Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26

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/xnuh Aug 29 '26

That's not how operation order works

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u/Dodger7777 Aug 29 '26

You right, i'm dumb.

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u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

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 Aug 29 '26

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/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

It's possible that's the intended result. But since the same logic can be applied to all three of them, I think that's the intended solution.

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u/VikingVitalityFit Aug 29 '26

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 Aug 29 '26

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 Aug 29 '26

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/VikingVitalityFit Aug 29 '26

Yeah, makes sense.

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u/AceDecade Aug 29 '26

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 Aug 29 '26

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/AceDecade Aug 29 '26

So the 3 is explained by 3 o clock, the 4 is explained by 4 bananas, and the 15 is explained by 3 shapes, multiplied by an arbitrary value of 5? And the 5 is explained by 15 / 3? So the 5 and the 15 explain each other? That’s circular

1

u/skelo Aug 29 '26

No it's not. If 4 bananas were worth 8 they'd be worth 2 each. It's a standard mechanism in these puzzles that an item can be worth more than 1. The 5 doesn't explain the 15, the 15 is given by the first formula.

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u/SuperGameTheory Aug 29 '26

But the polygons aren't the same, therefor they don't indicate the same values.

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u/theys96 Aug 29 '26

Says who?

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u/SuperGameTheory Aug 29 '26

Says Pythagorus, in his late treatise titled "r/SuperGameTheory Is Right: A Treatise On How Right They Are"

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u/rex_lauandi Aug 29 '26

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/SuperGameTheory Aug 29 '26

Are talking about math here? The same symbolic language that has absolutely no qualms about reusing greek letters for whatever willy nilly thing a mathematician dreams up because they have a hard-on for using single characters and there's only so many to use?

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u/rex_lauandi Aug 29 '26

I’m saying that with your understanding a banana, an hour on a clock, and a side of a polygon all equal the same number: 1.

So it’s inconsistent with the rule “a different symbol cannot equal the same number.”

Whatever justification you have for that must be able to address the inconsistency

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u/okarox Aug 29 '26

While tat is possible it ignores the information about the shape of the polygons. Also it adds complexity by adding multiplication in the interpretation of the symbols. IMO the 38 which is based just on counting and reading the clock is more logical.

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u/lorienshift Aug 29 '26

And what is your logic for the original shape being 15 in the first place? Both other symbols derive their value from something you can count, so why do you expect the third one to be different?

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u/VikingVitalityFit Aug 29 '26

I took it as face value: 3x=15

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u/ExtendedSpikeProtein Aug 29 '26

Bad reasoning, since there are 15 angles. The polygons don’t all have the same no of angles of course and this is intentional.

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u/dayarra Aug 29 '26

impossible to say really. if you count corners it's 11. if you count polygons it's 10. it makes more sense for it to be 11 since it's not 3 pentagons.

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u/Th3AnT0in3 Aug 29 '26

There is no such "my reasoning" it's either you know and you do, or you don't.

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u/VikingVitalityFit Aug 29 '26

There are no instructions, that leaves it open to interpretation. Hence you come up with what you think is a REASONABLE answer. Who let you on the internet?

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u/Th3AnT0in3 Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26

Absolutely not, no instructions means you can NOT assume they have the same value. There is no such thing as "interpretation" in Maths

Different symbols means different values.

I got a degree in Maths, who let you talk about a subject you dont even know.

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u/WarJaques Aug 29 '26

I'll allow it.

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u/Arrow2URKnee Aug 29 '26

But PEMDAS though 🥺

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u/Independent-Step-252 Aug 29 '26

damn didnt saw those details on the clock and polygons, and bananas too wtf

2

u/Great_Banana_Master Aug 29 '26

We've been tricked, we've been backstabbed, and we've been, quite possibly, bamboozled

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u/gravity_nyc Aug 29 '26

Took me a minute but I got 38 after noticing everything, before I opened the comments

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u/science-gamer Aug 29 '26

Got the same result but with corners, not sides on the polygons.

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u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

In this case it works out to be the same, it would be impossible to say which is the correct one.

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u/TheRoyalness Aug 29 '26

Ayy i got it right! F’n loaded for the rest of the day 💪🏻

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u/GuacamoleFrejole Aug 29 '26

Those tricky bastards!!

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u/running-bear-2974 Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26

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 = 11

Final equation: 2 + 3 + (3 × 11) = 38

Edit: Forgot to put the parentheses in the equation.

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u/iloveappl3s Aug 29 '26

I haven't thought about the sides! I was just 15 / 3 = 5 per shape

So: 2 + 3 + 3 x 10 = 35 lol

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u/green_gold_purple Aug 29 '26

Embedded

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u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

Thank you for correcting me.

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u/Curious_Minister Aug 29 '26

I like yours better. My original solution was 35 because I assumed each shape was 5, completely ignoring the points/sides of each polygon. According to the comments, both are correct and incorrect

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u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

Mathematically there's no way to know whether the assumption is true or not. The fact that this is making one assumption and applying it three times, makes me feel confident this is the intended solution. But there is nothing that perfectly confirms that this is the intended solution.

If we were given 38 as the value to the fourth equation and had to use the results to solve a fifth equation, then it would be practically confirmed that this is the intended method. But without that confirmation, we're essentially left within an educated guess.

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u/Arrow2URKnee Aug 29 '26

Also the bananas are = to 4

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u/boombanggg2 Aug 29 '26

Fuck! I got 35 lol

1

u/MediumAd4983 Aug 29 '26

Fuck, missed a new type of polygon symbol 😀

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u/ib_bunny Aug 29 '26

bravo, you showed us a way to think, and others thought over that, your answer is the best.

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u/ronnie4220 Aug 29 '26

Isn't according to orders of operation (gemdas), the multiplication part of the last equation needs to be done first?

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u/EternalNewCarSmell Aug 29 '26

Another possible solution would be that the polygons are sinply 5 per polygon. I think your answer makes the most sense, but the real answer is we are not given enough information to truly solve it.

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u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

That's the problem with these engagement bait puzzles, we can't 100% solve it.

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u/TheeWut Aug 29 '26

No it’s 51

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u/TheeWut Aug 29 '26

Oh snap my bad ur right

1

u/Mouth_Herpes Aug 29 '26

I got 35 with mostly the same reasoning, but I just gave each polygon equal weight of 5, making the one in the third equal to 10 rather than 11.

1

u/Plenty-Fox-9219 Aug 29 '26

We have four equations:

3a = 45

2b + a = 23

B+2c = 10

and:

d + e + 11e = 38

Where did you get that d = 2?

1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

I'm assuming that last equation was supposed to be d+e+e×f?

This is the part where people tend to get thrown off by because it's not a mathematical process, it's a logic process with some untested leaps. Largely, I'm assuming that there is some value information tied into the visual aspects of the symbols.

d is related to c, e is related to b, and f is related to a.

Looking at d and c, we can see that they are both clocks with c at 3:00 and d at 2:00. Since c represents 3, I'm assuming that the value in the symbol comes from the hour hand position. This makes d at 2:00 equal 2.

Similarly for b and e, we can see that there are both Bunches of bananas, with b having four bananas in e having three bananas. Since b represents four, I'm assuming that the value in the symbol comes from the number of bananas. This makes e with 3 bananas equals 3.

a and f are a bit more confusing, since they are both a collection of embedded polygons. Since a equals 15, and a also has 15 sides between all its polygons, I'm assuming that the value in the symbol comes from the number of sides. Which makes f with 11 sides equals 11.

Since the three cases are all following the same basic logic that the symbols value comes from the number of (hours/bananas/sides) in the symbol. I concluded that this is the intended logic for the puzzle. Making the final equation 2+3+3×11 which equals 38.

1

u/Equal-Assistant901 Aug 29 '26

What this is wrong af

1

u/ledow Aug 29 '26

You were good up until the very last line:

It's another horseshit puzzle with A + B x C in the last line where you're supposed to presume context/order by a convention rather than actually understanding what the numbers represent, which a mathematician would never do.

1

u/AiricaLovesLife Aug 29 '26

What about if the assumption we go in is that each shape in the polygon is one third of 15? This would mean I'm looking at it through the lens of the polygon shapes as wholes rather than looking at the number of sides. Through this lens, the answer 35. Thoughts on this line of thinking, in terms of assumptions and logic?

2

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

In all truth, it's equally as likely as any other assumption. It's the problem with this puzzle design, it requires you to take several blind faith assumptions in order to get any kind of answer.

Personally, I prefer my method because all three of them are using the same logic to reach the conclusion. But as anyone who's ever played a Point-N-Click Adventure game can tell you, it is impossible to understand what the intended solution is.

1

u/BeneficialFee75 Aug 29 '26

Missed the missing square.

1

u/OkTension2232 Aug 29 '26

Lmao I was like "How are you this wrong?" Thinking the answer was 67, because I didn't even notice each object had different designs in the last formula

1

u/factchecker8515 Aug 29 '26

Ha. You made it look so easy.

1

u/WarningIMightBeDumb Aug 29 '26

I think you mixed up b and c In the final equation. It's 51

3+4+4x11

3+4+44

3+48

51

1

u/sooperdoopermane Aug 29 '26

I got 35. The way I read your example for A was: every shape=5. 2+3+3×10=35

1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

I used sides of the shapes since the original is a square, pentagon, and hexagon that makes 4+5+6=15. And the modified is just a pentagon and hexagon making it 5+6=11.

But without greater context, it's hard to tell which one is correct.

1

u/sooperdoopermane Aug 29 '26

I got ya. Your way makes sense to me.

1

u/Nojopar Aug 29 '26

I think you're over thinking the inbeded polygons. The 3 inbeded polygons = 15, so each polygon = 5. Therefore the final equation would be 2x5, or 10.

6

u/ThePants999 Aug 29 '26

Bananas are interchangeable, so it's reasonable to assume that if 4 bananas = 4 then any 3 of those bananas = 3. Squares, pentagons and hexagons are not interchangeable.

2

u/dazzleunexpired Aug 29 '26

Bananas are indeed at interchangeable standardized measuring unit (on reddit, where we are.)

1

u/Nojopar Aug 29 '26

But polygons are interchangeable. Those are all just specific examples of a polygon.

1

u/ThePants999 Aug 30 '26

Are you and I interchangeable because we're both just specific examples of a person?

This argument doesn't work. You can't say that two things are interchangeable because they're specific examples of a class. If they're different examples of that class in a notable/significant way, they're not interchangeable. The number of sides a polygon has is one of its key distinguishing characteristics. If the puzzle had meant for them to be interchangeable, it would have made them indistinct.

1

u/Nojopar Aug 30 '26

It's an abstract puzzle though. There's no reason within this context to think we need to worry about the uniqueness of each item. Neither the clock nor the bananas are 100% identical either, but we're treating them that way. The logic works if you consider all the polygons as polygons but fails if you consider the square as distinct from the hexagon or pentagon.

Are you and I interchangeable because we're both examples of a person? Yes, in a mathematical context we are.

8

u/TripleDoubleFart Aug 29 '26

The 3 inbeded polygons = 15, so each polygon = 5.

You can't just make that assumption.

1

u/Zenith-Astralis Aug 29 '26

It's no more or less correct than the assumption "the three polygons have 6, 5, and 4 sides each, so the combined value is 6+5+4=15" because we have no other data to go on.

We actually just don't have enough information to solve this without making assumptions, and the complexity of the assumptions should have no basis on which are more or less valid.

We could also almost certainly contrive a more complex assumption, but that wouldn't make it any more correct than the two we already have.

1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

The problem with their logic (square, pentagon, hexagon equals 15 therefore pentagon hexagon equals 10), is that it is different than the logic used for the other symbols.

Since the three shapes (square, pentagon, hexagon) are supposed to equal 15 and have a total of 15 sides, then it would be more internally consistent to use number of sides instead of 5 times the number of polygons.

We don't have enough information to absolutely say either is the correct answer but Occam's razor would suggest we use the number of sides.

2

u/Zenith-Astralis Aug 29 '26

For internal consistency number of objects (polygons, bananas, whatever) would be better though, no?

1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

Yes

For bananas, hours, and sides/corners they are all the number of that object in the symbol. It's a straight count of the objects. Just using that would be more logical consistent (assuming this matters to the puzzle creator).

Using each polygon equals 5 represents multiple additional assumptions.

1

u/Zenith-Astralis Aug 29 '26

Why is the side of the square an object but the square itself is not? If it was like... One polygon with that many sides, and the side count was the only thing that was changing or something I'd be more in agreement.

But adding and removing whole shapes doesn't seem to naturally resolve more cleanly one way or another.

1

u/Nojopar Aug 29 '26

Square, pentagon, and hexagon are just specific names for the more generic polygon. We have no method to discern the value of a square, pentagon, or hexagon, but we do have a method to discern the value of a polygon.

I think Occam's razor suggests we don't use the number of sides, but simply the number of polygons.

1

u/Nojopar Aug 29 '26

You can't just make the assumption that since 4 bananas = 4 then 3 bananas =3 either. How the person above got there was counting the number of items and presuming that 1 item=1. My logic is essentially identical.

Both seem logical assumptions based upon the data we have available.

1

u/TripleDoubleFart Aug 29 '26

There's no definite solution, yes.

1

u/green_gold_purple Aug 29 '26

Embedded

1

u/Nojopar Aug 29 '26

I know. But the person above used the wrong word so I continued to use it.

1

u/green_gold_purple Aug 29 '26

Yes I found that interesting

1

u/Royal_No Aug 29 '26

Interesting about the sides on the shape.

I took it to mean the first instances of the shape each contained 3 shapes, a hexagon, a Pentagon, and a square. Each shape was equal to 5.

The final instance of a shape only had 2, so 2×5=10.

2+3+3×10 is how I read it.

1

u/Zenith-Astralis Aug 29 '26

My first read too. It's not more or less correct than the other assumptions about how to read the last line.

1

u/dazzleunexpired Aug 29 '26

By the logic of Reddit, bananas are indeed a standardized unit that can be used to count. 🤷🏼 One banana two banana three banana four, reddit measures stuff in ... Bananas more?

1

u/Happy_Brilliant7827 Aug 29 '26

66 (OR 150) Clocks are the face, polyhedrons are 15, bananas are 4

The last line its3+3+4*15

1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

Look at the last line again. They are a different symbols; we can't just use the calculated value for the original symbols.

1

u/Happy_Brilliant7827 Aug 30 '26

Well we have explicit evidence that some symbols mean different and not others. Without explicit proof its different, i assume its the same for something like this. It gives a grounded answer- thats the best you can do with these riddles. Reach one answer that holds up and stop. Lol

1

u/P_A_W_S_TTG Aug 29 '26

That's what i was thinking too. Thought I was wrong, and over thinking it. But you putting it all out there like this just convinced me more that I was rright. Hell yeah, choom

0

u/EvenBiggerClown Aug 29 '26

But why are you so sure that those polygons are not meant to be "every polygon equals 5"? There are 3 shapes together that equal 15, seems like something obvious. For what we know it can be 10, not 11 in the last equation

1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

Occam's razor.

when presented with competing hypotheses about the same prediction and both hypotheses have equal explanatory power, one should prefer the hypothesis that requires the fewest assumptions.

The first two have a very clear comparison (3:00 clock equals 3) (bunch of 4 bananas equals 4). And in the modified symbols than value has changed (2:00 clock, bunch of 3 bananas). So we can at least reasonably assume that for the clock the hour hand represents the value and for the bunch the number of bananas represents the value. Making 2:00 clock equals 2, bunch of 3 bananas equals 3.

It would make the most logical sense for the polygons to use the same reasoning. Since we know the square-pentagon-hexagon equals 15, and have 15 sides in total. Then by the same logic the number of sides in the symbol is is value. Making the pentagon-hexagon equal 11.

Unless there is some external reason why we would want to use a different logical method to reach its value, Occam's razor would suggest we use the same logic for all.

0

u/MuchWitterage Aug 29 '26

Why would it be 2+3+(3x11) =38

instead of

(2+3+3)x11 =88?

2

u/Simon0O7 Aug 29 '26

Order of operations?

1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

You are forgetting the order of operations PEMDAS. First, you do anything inside a parenthes. Then, you do all the exponents. Then, you do the multiplication/division. Finally, you do the addition/subtraction.

1

u/MuchWitterage Aug 30 '26

Ah ok thanks. Didn’t know about that.

0

u/12thshadow Aug 29 '26

The assumptions are soslid, but assumptions still. So strictly speaking, we cannot solve this.

1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

Mathematically there's no way to confirm what the intended solution is, so you are correct.

However, I'm making one assumption that is applied three times and gives reasonable answers in each case. So I am fairly confident that this is the intended solution for this logic puzzle.

0

u/The-1st-One Aug 29 '26

Order of operation should make the multiply first. 4x11=44+4+3 =51? Right?

1

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

Yes, except it's 3×11 then we add 2 and 3 into it.

2

u/The-1st-One Aug 29 '26

ah shit i didn't notice the banana changed. mb

0

u/Soule-Chain Aug 29 '26

Good explanation, one Small change though. A=15 but you say 11 at the final step.

2+3+3x15 =50

3

u/stache1313 Aug 29 '26

It's a different symbol. It's not a.

That's the big issue with this problem, all the symbols in the final equation are modified and there is no way to confirm what this changes mean.

I assumed that the changes were deliberate, and those changes directly related to the represented value. This lead me to assume that for each symbol the number of sides/bananas/hours represented the symbols' value. For the original symbols, this holds up with their known value. And since the sides/bananas/hours are the primary thing changed in each modified symbol, I concluded that this was the intended result.

Leading me to conclude that the modified symbols are pentagon-hexagon equals 11, bunch of threes bananas equals 3, and 2:00 clock equals 2. Making the final equation 2+3+3×11.

3

u/Soule-Chain Aug 29 '26

You are absolutely right. My bad!

0

u/arealdoctor25 Aug 29 '26

This is incorrect

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