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About LinkBacksWhen did ONE=TWO??
Just now
Let a=b...
When did ONE=TWO??
Just now
Let a=b...
An oldie but a goodie - when I first saw it, I worked out the answer pretty quickly, but I won't spoil it here. Here's how I normally lay it out:
1) We start with:
a=b
2) Times both sides by a:
a²=ab
3) Add a² to both sides:
2a²=a²+ab
4) Subtract 2ab from both sides:
2a²-2ab=a²-ab
5) Factorise:
2(a²-ab)=a²-ab
6)Divide by a²-ab
2=1
Last edited by mike_w; 18-08-2005 at 07:33 PM.
"Well, there was your Uncle Tiberius who died wrapped in cabbage leaves but we assumed that was a freak accident."
were you board lat night at about 2am and just decided to make 1=2
your computer is similar to a fridge in that if it cannot keep a beer cold then it sucks
Edit spoiler, select
The 4th line screws it up, youre dividing by zero.
good point i didn't see thatOriginally Posted by herulach
Last edited by unrealuniverse; 18-08-2005 at 07:19 PM.
your computer is similar to a fridge in that if it cannot keep a beer cold then it sucks
ab x a² is not a²+aba² = ab
3) Times both sides by a²:
2a²=a²+ab
Last edited by Dav0s; 18-08-2005 at 07:23 PM.
Oops - wrote down the wrong thing! Corrected now.
Anyway, here's another riddle type thing (hopefully I won't make a mistake this time!)
A man has a set of scales and 40 bags of cement, weighing from 1kg to 40kg (i.e. a 1kg bag, 2kg bag, etc.). He places each bag on one side of the scales in turn. What is the minimum number of weights overall you need to balance out the scales each time?
For example, let's say you balance the 1kg bag with a 1kg weight. For the 11kg bag, you use a 1kg weight and a 10kg weight. So far, you have used 2 weights - 1kg and 10kg.
Does that make sense? Anyway, as I said, what is the minimum number of weights overall you need to balance out the scales each time? If do find the answer, don't spoil it!
"Well, there was your Uncle Tiberius who died wrapped in cabbage leaves but we assumed that was a freak accident."
im probs just being stupid on this one but..
a²+ab - 2ab = a²-ab
how ^^
and ill have a go at ur puzzle in a bit
because thats like writing a + c -c -c (c=ab) so clearly the first 2 cancelim probs just being stupid on this one but..
a²+ab - 2ab = a²-ab
how ^^
and ill have a go at ur puzzle in a bit
Don't do maths.
and just started ur puzzle, got to 11kg and got incredibly bored! have to think lots fo every one and too much trial and error for my liking....got ne more?
a²+ab - 2ab... well, 2ab is two lots of ab...
a²+ab-ab-ab. We can cancel out the ab-ab in the middle, so we are left with:
a²-ab
And the puzzle is fun... I didn't get it first time, I fell into the usual trap.
"Well, there was your Uncle Tiberius who died wrapped in cabbage leaves but we assumed that was a freak accident."
ah yeah, soz i knew i was missing something
Could you spoil it please, but put it in white text so those who don't want to know don't see it?
I've always wondered how it worked, but either have never been good enough at maths to know, or not bothered enough to try and work it out myself.
I did, 4th post in.
Post below that one ajbrun - white text
/hint
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