| Author | Message | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7039 Registered: 4-2010 |
Trousers for a dollar I suspect this puzzle may have a slight woubit-y feel to it. However, I could be wrong. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 835 Registered: 9-2010 |
I love reading woubit puzzles. Alas, I am never very good at figuring them out. Is mr. woubit relevant? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7041 Registered: 4-2010 |
I love reading woubit puzzles. Alas, I am never very good at figuring them out. As am I, on both counts. Is mr. woubit relevant? Solely as the inspiration for this puzzle. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 839 Registered: 9-2010 |
Trousers = jeans/khakis/pants? "The Wrong Trousers"? Wallace & Gromit relevant? A dollar bill? A dollar coin? An American dollar? Some other country's dollar? (I know better than to assume things...) So, mr. woubit is the inspiration. Is this FYOI then? Did something from mr. woubit's imagination inspire this? One of his puzzles? kaylee submits that mr. woubit is a very fine puzzler indeed and should be proud Lord Balin has dedicated a puzzle to him :D | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7045 Registered: 4-2010 |
Trousers = jeans/khakis/pants? None of these - being more specific might help. "The Wrong Trousers"? No Wallace & Gromit relevant? Sadly, no. A dollar bill? A dollar coin? An American dollar? Some other country's dollar? None of these (I know better than to assume things...) You have learned, young Padawan. =) So, mr. woubit is the inspiration. Is this FYOI then? It is a true story, but the formation of the puzzle statement is woubit-styled. Did something from mr. woubit's imagination inspire this? One of his puzzles? Several of them, in fact. kaylee submits that mr. woubit is a very fine puzzler indeed and should be proud Lord Balin has dedicated a puzzle to him :D I hope he approves, and I hope I don't mess this one up. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 840 Registered: 9-2010 |
Levi's? Some other brand name? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7047 Registered: 4-2010 |
Levi's? No Some other brand name? No | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 842 Registered: 9-2010 |
Dimes relevant? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7049 Registered: 4-2010 |
Dimes relevant? Not really. The title won't make much sense until the statement's been deciphered, so don't focus too much on it now. In any case, the title isn't very relevant in the first place. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 844 Registered: 9-2010 |
Thrift stores? Goodwill? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7052 Registered: 4-2010 |
Thrift stores? Goodwill? No to both - this line of thinking is OTWT. You were right in separating the "trousers" from the "dollar". | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 846 Registered: 9-2010 |
*sighs* *kicks the WT* Trousers: slacks, strides, kegs or kex, breeches, trews, breeks? Shorts? Leggings? Dollar = the currency of: United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Eastern Caribbean territories, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Brunei, East Timor, Ecuador, Suriname, El Salvador, Panama, Belize? Thaler relevant? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7054 Registered: 4-2010 |
*sighs* *kicks the WT* The WT goes bouncing away, eventually falling into a lake. Trousers: slacks, strides, kegs or kex, breeches, A style of these trews, breeks? Shorts? Leggings? Dollar = the currency of: No United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Eastern Caribbean territories, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Brunei, East Timor, Ecuador, Suriname, El Salvador, Panama, Belize? Thaler relevant? No | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 849 Registered: 9-2010 |
Ok, so dollar is not currency here. Is dollar a style of breeches then? (I hope the WT fell into that pool with the piranhas. Maybe it'll distract the stupid fish.) I have no idea what else "dollar" might mean. Does it just mean "one"? Is this some sort of idiomuzzlish thing? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7058 Registered: 4-2010 |
Ok, so dollar is not currency here. Correct Is dollar a style of breeches then? Nope (I hope the WT fell into that pool with the piranhas. Maybe it'll distract the stupid fish.) I hope so too. I have no idea what else "dollar" might mean. Does it just mean "one"? No Is this some sort of idiomuzzlish thing? Not really. The way you're writing the word "dollar" may not be helping, though. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 851 Registered: 9-2010 |
"The way you're writing the word "dollar" may not be helping, though." ...What? Okay... $? $$$? Dollar? Rallod? D O L L A R ? Why do I feel like this is turning into a rulebreaker? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7061 Registered: 4-2010 |
To comply with the "going green" craze, I shall save paper (wait...this isn't paper! Oh well) and shorten the list... Dollar? ...to this, which is what I meant. Why do I feel like this is turning into a rulebreaker? CA | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 854 Registered: 9-2010 |
BALIN! *sighs* Now it's not only a rulebreaker but a CA one? *pokes* Okay, so "dollar" does not work, but "Dollar" works? It's a proper noun? A name? Someone or something named Dollar? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7063 Registered: 4-2010 |
BALIN! *sighs* Now it's not only a rulebreaker but a CA one? *pokes* This isn't going to turn into a poke war like on Facebook, is it? Okay, so "dollar" does not work, but "Dollar" works? Yes... It's a proper noun? Yes... A name? Someone or something named Dollar? Yes! We are looking for a type of breeches and someone named Dollar. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 855 Registered: 9-2010 |
Spanish breeches, stiff, ungathered breeches popular from the 1630s until the 1650s. Petticoat breeches, very full, ungathered breeches popular from the 1650s until the early 1660s, giving the impression of a woman's petticoat. Rhinegraves, full, gathered breeches popular from the early 1660s until the mid 1670s, often worn with an overskirt over them. Fall front breeches, breeches with a panel or flap covering the front opening and fastened up with buttons at either corner. Vráka are the traditional breeches of all Greek islands, from the westernmost Ionian islands to the easternmost, Cyprus. Greek breeches are extremely roomy, and are meant to be tucked inside long boots just below the knee. They were originally meant to facilitate movement on fishing boats and sailing ships. They are usually accompanied by a long, wide piece of cloth turned many times around the natural waist as a belt. As the vráka lacks pockets, items (such as money) were stored inside the folds of this belt. Vrákas are usually made of sturdy double-woven cotton cloth, usually dark blue or black, with brighter color cloth used as the belt. They were usually worn with white, long-sleeved shirts and a roomy waistcoat. Breeches are still worn by many chasidic men, particularly those of Galician or Hungarian origin, such as Satmar and Sanz In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the term breech-cloth or breech-clout was also used to describe the apron-like loincloths worn by some Native American peoples. In contemporary contexts, breeches are distinguished from other forms of pants or trousers as being shorter than ankle-length and form-fitting, as riding breeches. (Note, however, that riding breeches until the development of spandex tended to flare dramatically through the thighs.) Breeches are also an item of protective clothing used in the martial art of Fencing. In the Book of Exodus the kohenim (priests) were commanded to wear white linen breeches known as michnasayim. Aubrey Dollar, an American actress? Caroline Dollar, an American actress? Creflo Dollar, American televangelist? | ||
| Rbruma (Rbruma)
New member Username: Rbruma Post Number: 713 Registered: 9-2009 |
Bermuda relevant? The someone named 'Dollar' is he a : H? A? M? Is (s)he still alive? Is s(he) a historical figure? Was s(he) born in the US? Canada? Mexico? UK? Continental Europe? South America? Africa? Australasia? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7070 Registered: 4-2010 |
Spanish breeches, stiff, ungathered breeches popular from the 1630s until the 1650s. Petticoat breeches, very full, ungathered breeches popular from the 1650s until the early 1660s, giving the impression of a woman's petticoat. Rhinegraves, full, gathered breeches popular from the early 1660s until the mid 1670s, often worn with an overskirt over them. Fall front breeches, breeches with a panel or flap covering the front opening and fastened up with buttons at either corner. Vráka are the traditional breeches of all Greek islands, from the westernmost Ionian islands to the easternmost, Cyprus. Greek breeches are extremely roomy, and are meant to be tucked inside long boots just below the knee. They were originally meant to facilitate movement on fishing boats and sailing ships. They are usually accompanied by a long, wide piece of cloth turned many times around the natural waist as a belt. As the vráka lacks pockets, items (such as money) were stored inside the folds of this belt. Vrákas are usually made of sturdy double-woven cotton cloth, usually dark blue or black, with brighter color cloth used as the belt. They were usually worn with white, long-sleeved shirts and a roomy waistcoat. Breeches are still worn by many chasidic men, particularly those of Galician or Hungarian origin, such as Satmar and Sanz In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the term breech-cloth or breech-clout was also used to describe the apron-like loincloths worn by some Native American peoples. In contemporary contexts, breeches are distinguished from other forms of pants or trousers as being shorter than ankle-length and form-fitting, as riding breeches. (Note, however, that riding breeches until the development of spandex tended to flare dramatically through the thighs.) Breeches are also an item of protective clothing used in the martial art of Fencing. In the Book of Exodus the kohenim (priests) were commanded to wear white linen breeches known as michnasayim. None of these are the correct breeches type, although that is an impressive list. Aubrey Dollar, an American actress? Caroline Dollar, an American actress? Creflo Dollar, American televangelist? None of these Bermuda relevant? No The someone named 'Dollar' is he a : H? A? M? Yes to all Is (s)he still alive? Yes Is s(he) a historical figure? Not really Was s(he) born in the US? This Canada? Mexico? UK? Continental Europe? South America? Africa? Australasia? | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3540 Registered: 9-2009 |
Is the Dollay guy: Rich? Famous? Infamous? A businessman? Politician? Bum? Criminal? Is he wearing the breeches? Or selling them? Is one pair of breeches relevant? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7110 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the Dollay guy: Rich? Likely Famous? At one point, but not so much anymore Infamous? No A businessman? Politician? Bum? Criminal? None of these Is he wearing the breeches? Or selling them? No to both Is one pair of breeches relevant? One type of breeches, yes, but not one specific pair. | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3554 Registered: 9-2009 |
Is he a hero? Did he win lots of money? Did he invent the breeches? Were they named after him? Was he involved in an incident? One with breeches also involved? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7134 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is he a hero? Did he win lots of money? Did he invent the breeches? Were they named after him? Was he involved in an incident? One with breeches also involved? No to all. Remember, the puzzle statement, styled after some of woubit's puzzles, is cryptic. The "trousers" and "dollar" are the two separate parts, and after the statement has been deciphered, it must be determined what the scenario/incident/newsstory is. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 1965 Registered: 7-2009 |
Is Dollar's profession relevant? If so, can I use the [LTPF list of occupations]? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7161 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is Dollar's profession relevant? Yes If so, can I use the [LTPF list of occupations]? He was a fine musician, he practiced every day. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7162 Registered: 4-2010 |
Oh, and Googling is very much allowed in this puzzle. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 1966 Registered: 7-2009 |
Johnny Dollar? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7183 Registered: 4-2010 |
Johnny Dollar? That's our guy! | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7297 Registered: 4-2010 |
Recapping for clarity's sake... "Trousers for a dollar" is the cryptic puzzle statement. It must be decoded to actually solve the puzzle. The cryptic statement is in two parts, with the deciphering steps determined so far below: "Trousers" -> specific type of breeches -> ? "Dollar" -> Johnny Dollar -> ? HINT: The question marks make up the deciphered puzzle statement, so you're not that far away. And recall, Googling is allowed. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1055 Registered: 9-2010 |
This one? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7545 Registered: 4-2010 |
This one? No, although the Johnny Dollar in question is indeed a musician. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1067 Registered: 9-2010 |
This one? If so, I'm going to have to be angry with myself for taking you literally. In other news, the Giants won, 7-11 last night. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7588 Registered: 4-2010 |
This one? No - his name is actually Johnny Dollar. But that guess is more lateral than the actual solution. In other news, the Giants won, 7-11 last night. Cool! | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1074 Registered: 9-2010 |
Well, Wikipedia doesn't seem to know of any other Johnny Dollar musicians, unless you mean this guy. But I'm not at all sure that's right. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1075 Registered: 9-2010 |
And I'm *still* lost on the breeches bit. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7593 Registered: 4-2010 |
Well, Wikipedia doesn't seem to know of any other Johnny Dollar musicians, unless you mean this guy. But I'm not at all sure that's right. Not him. This Johnny Dollar actually doesn't have a Wikipedia page, although his band does (HINT). And I'm *still* lost on the breeches bit. Well, once you figure out the band, it might help with the breeches part. You know that it's a specific type of breeches - you just need the correct type. And no [LTPF list of breeches] allowed (although Google and Wikipedia certainly are). | ||
| Kalira (Kalira)
New member Username: Kalira Post Number: 400 Registered: 2-2009 |
breeches: Are they a specific type that would be more likely to be called breeches than pants? Wouldn't happen to be knickerbockers, would they? and from there Knicks? If not that, riding breeches? jodhpurs? bellbottoms? jeans? trousers? shorts? something else? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7596 Registered: 4-2010 |
breeches: Are they a specific type that would be more likely to be called breeches than pants? Probably - I've never actually seen them in real life Wouldn't happen to be knickerbockers, would they? and from there Knicks? Good line of thought, but no. If not that, riding breeches? jodhpurs? bellbottoms? jeans? trousers? shorts? something else? This one. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1079 Registered: 9-2010 |
This? (Can't find anything else...) | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7601 Registered: 4-2010 |
This? (Can't find anything else...) Wow - who knew there were so many Johnny Dollars? Sadly, this one isn't our man either - you're looking for someone from the '80s. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 1980 Registered: 7-2009 |
Ok, what music style did his band play? 80s pop? Hard rock? Soft rock? Were they a hair band? Country? Blues? Bluegrass? Rockabilly? Big band? Disco? Latin? Punk? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7696 Registered: 4-2010 |
Ok, what music style did his band play? 80s pop? This - synth-pop. And if it helps, the band was a duo. Hard rock? Soft rock? Were they a hair band? Country? Blues? Bluegrass? Rockabilly? Big band? Disco? Latin? Punk? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 1981 Registered: 7-2009 |
Was the other half of the duo M? F? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7702 Registered: 4-2010 |
Was the other half of the duo M? This F? | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1128 Registered: 9-2010 |
Our Johnny Dollar, I presume? | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1129 Registered: 9-2010 |
(If *that's* not it, then Balin, we have a problem) | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7711 Registered: 4-2010 |
Our Johnny Dollar, I presume? That's the one! So the "dollar" half of the puzzle statement has been deciphered to mean "times two" - that should help with the type of breeches. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1143 Registered: 9-2010 |
Two times two is four? Multiplication relevant? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7747 Registered: 4-2010 |
Two times two is four? No, but see next Multiplication relevant? Not in the deciphering of the puzzle statement; however, "four" is in the name of the breeches. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1154 Registered: 9-2010 |
*cartoony light bulb going on* Plus-fours? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7765 Registered: 4-2010 |
*cartoony light bulb going on* Plus-fours? There we go! So the puzzle statement has been decoded as Plus four, times two Now it becomes more...I don't know...normal-lateral-puzzly. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1156 Registered: 9-2010 |
Hurrah for the randomly useful things one learns from reading "Harry Potter"...but I hadn't remembered there would be more to this. Here we go again, lol... | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1157 Registered: 9-2010 |
Plus four, times two...plus eight? Or 4,2 might be coordinates on a graph...or something algebraic... | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7766 Registered: 4-2010 |
Plus four, times two...plus eight? No Or 4,2 might be coordinates on a graph...or something algebraic... No, though another branch of mathematics is relevant. (Although, some do not consider this branch real math. I am not one of those people.) In any case, this is now more like your standard situation puzzle, but still a bit twisted. It is Halloween, after all, and evil abounds.... 'Cause this is THRIL-LER!!! | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1168 Registered: 9-2010 |
Michael Jackson? MJ? Jackson Five? Thriller? Beat It? You Are Not Alone? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7782 Registered: 4-2010 |
Michael Jackson? MJ? Jackson Five? Thriller? Beat It? You Are Not Alone? None of these. I just couldn't resist the song shout-out, it being Halloween and all. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1181 Registered: 9-2010 |
Yes, well, that's your fault, then. :-P Happy Halloween, Balin. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7800 Registered: 4-2010 |
Happy Halloween, Kaylee! | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7880 Registered: 4-2010 |
Might as well give a MEDIUM-SIZED HINT: The branch of math relevant is statistics. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1211 Registered: 9-2010 |
Ick...I never took statistics. I think my sister did. Maybe I'll ask her tomorrow when she comes home for her birthday (she'll be 22. And I thought last year was bad...) | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 1988 Registered: 7-2009 |
Well the new puzzle statement doesn't right any statistical bells for me, so here goes brute force... Is a certain statistical analysis relevant? T-test? Chi-Square? Regression? Goodness of fit? ANOVA? Confidence Intervals? Other? A commonly used statistic? standard deviation? Mean? Median? Mode? Variance? other? A statistical concept? p-value? alpha? r? hypothesis testing? null hypothesis? significance? randomness? other? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7884 Registered: 4-2010 |
Ick...I never took statistics. I think my sister did. Maybe I'll ask her tomorrow when she comes home for her birthday (she'll be 22. And I thought last year was bad...) Tell her I said Happy Birthday! Well the new puzzle statement doesn't right any statistical bells for me, so here goes brute force... Is a certain statistical analysis relevant? T-test? Chi-Square? Regression? Goodness of fit? ANOVA? Confidence Intervals? Other? A commonly used statistic? standard deviation? Mean? Median? Mode? Variance? other? A statistical concept? p-value? alpha? r? hypothesis testing? null hypothesis? significance? randomness? other? Other, but a SLIGHT BLOOPER on my part, as this does not entirely fall under the range of statistics. I'll just say that you're looking for probability. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1216 Registered: 9-2010 |
I will. =) Probability. Hm. That's like saying "there's a 1 in 100 chance that..." ? Right? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7896 Registered: 4-2010 |
Probability. Hm. That's like saying "there's a 1 in 100 chance that..." ? Right? Pretty much. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1260 Registered: 9-2010 |
So...a two in four chance? One of two might also be correct? Half and half? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7941 Registered: 4-2010 |
So...a two in four chance? One of two might also be correct? Half and half? No to all | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 2008 Registered: 7-2009 |
permutations relevant? combinations? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 7965 Registered: 4-2010 |
permutations relevant? combinations? This, but more specifically... | ||
| Whirligig (Whirligig)
New member Username: Whirligig Post Number: 429 Registered: 8-2010 |
Pascal's triangle? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8013 Registered: 4-2010 |
Pascal's triangle? No. This is actually something very common that probability is used for. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 2012 Registered: 7-2009 |
flipping a coin? rolling dice? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8050 Registered: 4-2010 |
flipping a coin? rolling dice? Neither | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1332 Registered: 9-2010 |
Sibling says "The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything - 42! LOL!" Now (unless any of that is actually relevant)...*looks expectantly at sibling* Sports? Possibly baseball statistics? (The Giants games? :-D I (Kaylee) think they were still doing the NLCS when you put this up...boy, it's been going on a while...) | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8075 Registered: 4-2010 |
Sibling says "The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything - 42! LOL!" Host say, "That is true, but not relevant to puzzle. But LOL as well." =) Now (unless any of that is actually relevant)...*looks expectantly at sibling* Sports? Possibly baseball statistics? (The Giants games? No to all :-D I (Kaylee) think they were still doing the NLCS when you put this up...boy, it's been going on a while...) Hmmm...I really can't remember. HINT: Remember that combinations are relevant. And this almost always only applies to people over 18. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1339 Registered: 9-2010 |
Hmm...The number of people in college who do a certain thing relevant? The likelihood of them doing this thing? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8085 Registered: 4-2010 |
Hmm...The number of people in college who do a certain thing relevant? The likelihood of them doing this thing? Neither | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8086 Registered: 4-2010 |
HINT: Think of something involving probablilty that's illegal for people under 18 to do. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1341 Registered: 9-2010 |
Does one have to be an adult to be considered in this statistic? Or just more likely to be one? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8089 Registered: 4-2010 |
Does one have to be an adult to be considered in this statistic? Yope - look at the hint again. Or just more likely to be one? No | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1343 Registered: 9-2010 |
Well, we crossposted; I didn't see the hint before. In the United States, at least (where we are both resident, though not all LTPF-ers are), one has to be 18 to: Vote? Get married? (usually, though it varies by state. In California, for example, you can get married younger if your parent, or a superior court judge, permits it) Be of the age of consent? (variable by state, between 16-18 in all U.S. states) be at the age of majority? (with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21) Drive? (In California, at least, the unrestricted license age is 18. It varies by state.) Smoke or purchase tobacco? (The laws vary by state, but it's usually 18, I think) | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8100 Registered: 4-2010 |
In the United States, at least (where we are both resident, though not all LTPF-ers are), one has to be 18 to: Vote? Get married? (usually, though it varies by state. In California, for example, you can get married younger if your parent, or a superior court judge, permits it) Be of the age of consent? (variable by state, between 16-18 in all U.S. states) be at the age of majority? (with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21) Drive? (In California, at least, the unrestricted license age is 18. It varies by state.) Smoke or purchase tobacco? (The laws vary by state, but it's usually 18, I think) None of these - it's something you haven't mentioned yet. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1346 Registered: 9-2010 |
Curse Wikipedia for such a short list...Is it possible to have a hint? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8104 Registered: 4-2010 |
Curse Wikipedia for such a short list...Is it possible to have a hint? Sure - it involves purchasing something, usually for about a dollar, but sometimes more. A lot of people I know bought one for their 18th birthday, just because they could. (I didn't - I didn't understand the point of it.) | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1348 Registered: 9-2010 |
*frowns* Well, I'm not coming up with anything off the top of my head...it seriously hasn't got anything to do with anything on that list? Is any one of them even vaguely relevant? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8106 Registered: 4-2010 |
*frowns* Well, I'm not coming up with anything off the top of my head...it seriously hasn't got anything to do with anything on that list? Is any one of them even vaguely relevant? Hmmm...not really. I'll give you another HINT: It's a really big source of revenue for pretty much any state. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1352 Registered: 9-2010 |
Taxes? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8110 Registered: 4-2010 |
Taxes? No, although it involves money. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1354 Registered: 9-2010 |
*Gibbs-slaps self in Balin-esque fashion as light bulb comes on* Gambling? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8112 Registered: 4-2010 |
*Gibbs-slaps self in Balin-esque fashion as light bulb comes on* The light bulb is irrelevant. ;-) Gambling? Yes, and more specifically... | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1355 Registered: 9-2010 |
Lottery? Slot machines? Card games? Roulette? That just about exhausts my knowledge of gambling...I don't do it, so I never thought about it. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8114 Registered: 4-2010 |
Lottery? This one!! Slot machines? Card games? Roulette? Now how does that connect to the deciphered puzzle statement? | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1357 Registered: 9-2010 |
"Plus four, times two"? Did I mention I've never played the lottery? Umm...the number of different numbers one has to use to win? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8115 Registered: 4-2010 |
"Plus four, times two"? Did I mention I've never played the lottery? Nor have I, but only a basic knowledge is needed. Umm...the number of different numbers one has to use to win? Yope, depending on what you mean by that question. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1360 Registered: 9-2010 |
Like on a card where you have to scratch off a certain number? And three or whatever have to match to win? Or the one where they drop the balls out of the thing through a tube and say what numbers are on those? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8119 Registered: 4-2010 |
Like on a card where you have to scratch off a certain number? And three or whatever have to match to win? Not this kind, but... Or the one where they drop the balls out of the thing through a tube and say what numbers are on those? ...this kind. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8255 Registered: 4-2010 |
RECAP to hopefully help put this one to bed: The deciphered puzzle statement, "Plus four, times two", refers to something related to the probability of winning the lottery - or if you want to get technical, the chances against winning the lottery. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1182 Registered: 6-2008 |
Is the number of ways of losing calculated from something else by adding four and then multiplying by 2? or are the two operations performed on different numbers, not sequentially on one number? or are the operations slightly different than written (for example "plus four" meaning "four orders of magnitude higher")? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8372 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the number of ways of losing calculated from something else by adding four and then multiplying by 2? No, but OTRT-ish or are the two operations performed on different numbers, not sequentially on one number? Yope or are the operations slightly different than written (for example "plus four" meaning "four orders of magnitude higher")? Not really - the best way to describe it is probably that the "plus four" results in the "times two". | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1189 Registered: 6-2008 |
So the "plus four" is referring to four additional balls to draw from? four additional balls drawn in the sequence? four additional combinations? | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 2370 Registered: 3-2006 |
I've missed this puzzle; it looks good ... Does 'times two' equate to 'you're twice as likely to win the lottery if ...'? Is a specific lottery relevant? Does it matter how many balls there are? It can't be that choosing four more balls doubles your chances, as it would be a much bigger increase than that. Is another probability relevant? Such as being struck by lightning, or similar? Is it a real mathematical probability? Or something comical/anecdotal? Or is it to do with the payout you get if you win? For instance, although 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 is as likely as 7,11,17,25,27,31, the latter one will normally pay a smaller dividend, because people space their numbers out and choose things like birthdays, etc. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8382 Registered: 4-2010 |
So the "plus four" is referring to four additional balls to draw from? Yes, or in other words, four additional numbers to choose from. four additional balls drawn in the sequence? four additional combinations? No to these I've missed this puzzle; it looks good ... Thank you! Does 'times two' equate to 'you're twice as likely to win the lottery if ...'? Actually, the opposite... Is a specific lottery relevant? Yes, and to save you all from guessing, it's the Connecticut State Lottery. Does it matter how many balls there are? Yes It can't be that choosing four more balls doubles your chances, as it would be a much bigger increase than that. And it's not... Is another probability relevant? No Such as being struck by lightning, or similar? No Is it a real mathematical probability? Yes Or something comical/anecdotal? No Or is it to do with the payout you get if you win? Not really For instance, although 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 is as likely as 7,11,17,25,27,31, the latter one will normally pay a smaller dividend, because people space their numbers out and choose things like birthdays, etc. True, but irrelevant to this puzzle. I think we might have all the information now - someone just needs to put everything in place. | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 2371 Registered: 3-2006 |
Ok, so the CT state lottery has N balls, and the odds against winning are 1:x. With N+4 balls, the odds lengthen to 1:2x. Sounds about right. Does this finish the job? Punters are so naive about lotteries. Our UK lottery pays a £10 consolation for three numbers out of six. Some betting shops allow you to pick three numbers, and pay you £500 if they all come up. They then tell you that this is fifty times more generous than the national lottery. Hehe. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8389 Registered: 4-2010 |
Punters are so naive about lotteries. Our UK lottery pays a £10 consolation for three numbers out of six. Some betting shops allow you to pick three numbers, and pay you £500 if they all come up. They then tell you that this is fifty times more generous than the national lottery. Hehe. Wow. Just...wow. Like I said before, a lot of my friends bought a lottery ticket when they turned 18, I guess as some sort of "coming-of-age", "I-can-do-this-legally" idea. I didn't see the point in it. Still don't. Ok, so the CT state lottery has N balls, and the odds against winning are 1:x. With N+4 balls, the odds lengthen to 1:2x. Sounds about right. Does this finish the job? It does, and so I will say **********SPOILER********** A few years ago, the CT State Lottery added four numbers to the lottery drawing, changing from 40 to 44. Now, although this might seem like a small difference, if one does the math, it is seen that the odds against winning nearly double - from about 1 in 3.8 million to about 1 in 7.1 million. Interestingly, most state lotteries are set up so the odds against winning are roughly equal to the state population (so the odds are 1 in X, where X = the state population). CT's population, at the time of the change, was about 3.8 million - adding four numbers made the odds twice as high against anyone winning. (This information brought to you courtesy of the college statistics class I took during my junior year of high school.) Nice solve, Woodworm. And thanks also to Kaylee and Noel for a lot of groundwork, and Biograd for the boost. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 8390 Registered: 4-2010 |
Oh yes, and thanks also to Woubit for the inspiration. I do hope he approves. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 1505 Registered: 9-2010 |
*cheers* Now you can input the password, Balin!!! | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1191 Registered: 6-2008 |
Being the over-analytical person I am, I was just now trying to figure out why lotteries are run so that the jackpot is divided among the winners. I would have thought that if you guaranteed the full jackpot to every winner, no matter how many there were, then the perceived increase in fairness of the game would bring in more revenue from additional players than would be needed to pay an additional winner a fraction of the time. But then it occurred to me, maybe it's mostly done to keep people honest. If every winner was guaranteed the full jackpot, then anyone who figured out a way to rig the game would have an incentive to tell all his friends (or conspire with them to figure it out in the first place), whereas he would have a disincentive the way lotteries are currently played. So maybe the real savings of doing it this way are in security trying to prevent people from "hacking" the lottery. | ||
| Alex319 (Alex319)
New member Username: Alex319 Post Number: 877 Registered: 5-2007 |
I know the answer to the question about the jackpot being divided: The lottery jackpot money comes from the revenue from ticket sales. The lottery takes out their cut (the money that goes to the state treasury, as well as the operating expenses) plus the money for the lower level prizes (which usually isn't that much) and the rest goes to the prize pool. The advertised jackpot is the amount that's in the prize pool (actually, the amount of an annuity that you can buy with the amount in the prize pool), and it keeps growing until someone wins. So if they advertise a jackpot of $10 million, it's because they have $10 million in the prize pool. They don't actually HAVE enough money to pay three people $10 million if they all win. Of course they could keep some sort of insurance fund in place to compensate for that possibility, but then there would be less money in the main prize pool which means smaller jackpots. And there are certain combinations (like 1-2-3-4-5-6) that get picked by thousands of people, so even with any reasonable amount of money they couldn't afford to do it. |
