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        riddles >> easy >> Kindergarten App Math
        
(Message started by: Speaker on Jan 22^nd, 2003, 8:09pm)

Title: Kindergarten App Math
Post by Speaker on Jan 22^nd, 2003, 8:09pm

Here is the problem, exactly, except for all the words in this version are in English.

Next, we have an arithmetic problem.

5 + 8 + 3 = 72

Normally these add up to 16.
But, if you insert a 2, they add up to 72.
The problem, where to insert the 2.

There are no other rules. The term from which I derived "insert" could also be "write-in." But, I don't think this reflects on the puzzle.

Title: Re: Kindergarten App Math
Post by NickH on Jan 22^nd, 2003, 8:26pm

How about this? Highlight hidden text below to view...

[hide]5 + 8² + 3 = 72[/hide]

Title: Re: Kindergarten App Math
Post by Chronos on Jan 23^rd, 2003, 7:48pm

I thought of the same thing as NickH, but is that really something that kindergartners are expected to know? Or is there some other, kinder, answer?

Title: Re: Kindergarten App Math
Post by Speaker on Jan 24^th, 2003, 12:41am

Chronos
I agree with you, it seems a bit much to ask a kid trying to get into kindergarten, but I can find no other answer.

I am not making these up, you can see them and some others at
http//www1.odn.ne.jp˜hattori01/seito/quiz1.htm

It is all in Japanese, and true to the spirit of riddling, no answers.

Title: Re: Kindergarten App Math
Post by udippel on Jan 25^th, 2003, 9:27am

You never know in these days ...
... how far we can go !??
The only one something without ** is splitting hairs:
5(1 + 1)8 + 3 = 72 or so ... as far as I can think.
Even for this, Kindergarten must be very different in JP!

Uwe

Title: Re: Kindergarten App Math
Post by Icarus on Jan 25^th, 2003, 11:08am

on 01/25/03 at 09:27:47, udippel wrote:

5(1 + 1)8 + 3 = 72

??? ??? ???

Title: Re: Kindergarten App Math
Post by udippel on Jan 25^th, 2003, 7:06pm

Does my mental arithmetics fail me these days ??
Surely don't want to convince you of this, but since we don't have the clear wording and **2 is maybe not Kindergarten even in JP ....
5 + 8 + 3 = ?
We 'write-in' another 2 = 1 + 1:
5 1 + 1 8 + 3 = 72 (according to my (wrong?) mental efforts)

Title: Re: Kindergarten App Math
Post by Icarus on Jan 26^th, 2003, 12:14pm

Okay - I'll buy that - though NOT as something Japanese Kindergartners are more likely to come up with than squaring!

But as you wrote it 5(1+1)8+3 = 5 x 2 x 8 + 3 =83 not 72. The parentheses are important!

Title: Re: Kindergarten App Math
Post by udippel on Jan 26^th, 2003, 5:21pm

You don't have to buy it! I myself would vote for **2, and as I wrote further up,
" Even for this, Kindergarten must be very different in JP! "

Once someone asked for 'kinder' answers, I considered this just another riddle. And my 5(1 + 1)8 + 3 was meant as hint; as pseudo-code.
Sorry for misleading you!

Title: Re: Kindergarten App Math
Post by Nikki on Jan 4^th, 2005, 10:00pm

How about you turn the plus sign sideways.

5 x 8 + 32 =

40 + 32=

72

Title: Re: Kindergarten App Math
Post by Grimbal on Jan 5^th, 2005, 1:20am

Aha. Suppose the problem is given with plastic symbols on a magnetic board, like those you can see in kindergardens, then it makes sense.

Title: Re: Kindergarten App Math
Post by rmsgrey on Jan 5^th, 2005, 8:03am

How are the numbers represented in the original? If something other than the Western representations used in this version is used, then there might be some other graphical trick...