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Gateux
 Post subject: Tough maths question (can you solve it?)
PostPosted: August 6th, 2015, 12:45 am 
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So yup came across this maths question which still I wouldn't say its real maths, apparently it's a question for 14 year old in my country. What's your understanding on this question? Do you find it tough?

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Eadwulf
 Post subject: Re: Tough maths question (can you solve it?)
PostPosted: August 6th, 2015, 3:49 am 
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This has nothing to do with mathematics and everything to do with pointless exercises in deductive logic.

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Market Man6
 Post subject: Re: Tough maths question (can you solve it?)
PostPosted: August 6th, 2015, 8:56 am 
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How about June 18?
Just a guess

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Kikori
 Post subject: Re: Tough maths question (can you solve it?)
PostPosted: August 6th, 2015, 4:52 pm 
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Month: I know Day can't use a unique number to figure out what I know. This means May and June, with a unique 18 and 19, are unlikely.
Day: That means it's July or August. That leaves 14, 15, 16, or 17. 14 is shared, but "now I know", so it's not 14.
Month: If it were August, we'd both be confused because there are two options left. But July only has July 16 left.
Or something like that.

It would help if they detailed a little bit that they were actually logically deducing things with each other instead of just spouting what looks like nonsense.

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Saten Ruiko
 Post subject: Re: Tough maths question (can you solve it?)
PostPosted: August 6th, 2015, 6:37 pm 
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Kikori is exactly correct.

Answer: 
1) If Albert (who knows only the month) knows that Bernard (who knows only the day) does NOT know Cheryl's birthday, that means the month MUST be July or August. Because if the month were May or June, it would be possible that her birthday is (May) 19th or (June) 18th, and thus Bernard might know. But he doesn't, so it's not!
2) Bernard knows only the day, but now he also knows it's either July or August. He says he now knows Cheryl's birthday. The key to the final answer is that Albert ALSO now knows Cheryl's birthday. So if we break it down between what Bernard was told:
a) It can't be "14" because that could be July or August. Albert also knows it can't be "14" for this reason.
b) It can't be "15" because Albert said he also now knows Cheryl's birthday. If he was told "August", he wouldn't be able to say he knew her birthday, because he wouldn't know if Bernard was told "15" or "17".
c) It can't be "17" because of the same reason as b, above.
d) It must be "16" because of the same reason above. Albert knows the month and that it's NOT the 14th. The only way he can know Cheryl's birthday is now if it's July 16th.


I found it to be a pretty fun problem. Not related to mathematics in any way, but I've always loved deductive reasoning puzzles. Thanks for sharing!

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Petrifiedparrot
 Post subject: Re: Tough maths question (can you solve it?)
PostPosted: August 6th, 2015, 7:04 pm 
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That's an interesting problem. I really couldn't solve it using logic. But if it was a math problem, that's impossible to answer doing calculations.
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Kikori
 Post subject: Re: Tough maths question (can you solve it?)
PostPosted: August 6th, 2015, 7:17 pm 
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Petrifiedparrot wrote:
That's an interesting problem. I really couldn't solve it using logic. But if it was a math problem, that's impossible to answer doing calculations.


As Ead said, there is zero mathematics involved, except figuring out what percentage of a chance you have to solve it if you guess at random.
It could still be worded better, though.

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Phat Hobo
 Post subject: Re: Tough maths question (can you solve it?)
PostPosted: August 6th, 2015, 9:33 pm 
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Cheryl is a crappy friend.

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Eadwulf
 Post subject: Re: Tough maths question (can you solve it?)
PostPosted: August 6th, 2015, 10:34 pm 
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Kikori wrote:
Petrifiedparrot wrote:
That's an interesting problem. I really couldn't solve it using logic. But if it was a math problem, that's impossible to answer doing calculations.


As Ead said, there is zero mathematics involved, except figuring out what percentage of a chance you have to solve it if you guess at random.
It could still be worded better, though.


I spent a couple of minutes trying to figure out why the number pairs were significant until I realised that I couldn't be sure of any ensuing conclusions because of the obvious Engrish translation.

That and I was hungover and still sore from spending five hours working on a roof the previous day, and I don't care for this kind of Fuzzy Bunny when I'm not being paid for it.

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