| Author | Message | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 53 Registered: 4-2009 |
Should be solved quickly, but I'll still post it. 1^.5 --> 15 | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 54 Registered: 4-2009 |
Er, how do you put in your username in the title if you've forgotten it earlier? Every time I try, it says that you can't edit posts more that 0 minutes old. | ||
| Pikachizzle (Pikachizzle)
New member Username: Pikachizzle Post Number: 372 Registered: 5-2009 |
Wait for a mod. Is the .5 an exponent? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 56 Registered: 4-2009 |
Wait for a mod. OK Is the .5 an exponent? Yes | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 398 Registered: 6-2008 |
.5 = 0.5 (for the purposes of the puzzle of course)? Is it also true that 2^.5-->25 ? Is the arrow meant to indicate that 1^.5=15 ? that it becomes 15 after some sequence of operations? Are the peculiarities of a particular computer or calculator relevant here? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 59 Registered: 4-2009 |
.5 = 0.5 Yes (for the purposes of the puzzle of course)? Is it also true that 2^.5-->25 ? No Is the arrow meant to indicate that 1^.5=15 ? No that it becomes 15 after some sequence of operations? Yes-ish Are the peculiarities of a particular computer or calculator relevant here? No | ||
| Quovynyte (Quovynyte)
New member Username: Quovynyte Post Number: 6 Registered: 6-2009 |
Is the answer 123? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 64 Registered: 4-2009 |
Is the answer 123? I don't know if you're joking or not, but no, it's not the answer. And I'll tell you that the solution to this puzzle is not so much of an answer as it is an explanation. | ||
| Quovynyte (Quovynyte)
New member Username: Quovynyte Post Number: 11 Registered: 6-2009 |
Well is it about Maths? Do I have to solve it? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 66 Registered: 4-2009 |
Well is it about Maths? Not so much about math as it is about other stuff, but a little (very little) mathematics is involved. Do I have to solve it? See previous answer | ||
| Quovynyte (Quovynyte)
New member Username: Quovynyte Post Number: 14 Registered: 6-2009 |
Does the arrow/shape of the arrow have anything to do with it? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 70 Registered: 4-2009 |
Does the arrow/shape of the arrow have anything to do with it? The arrow doesn't have any relevance at all except that it is an arrow and not an '=' sign. Have a look at the answer I have given to one of Biograd's questions above. | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 75 Registered: 4-2009 |
Okay, things have been quite slow here, so I'll give a little ************HINT************ Just do a little basic mathematics for this expression. The result can be very helpful. Also, that 15 is not all that it looks like. It has another meaning. | ||
| Kalira (Kalira)
New member Username: Kalira Post Number: 206 Registered: 2-2009 |
You said .5 was an exponent. Could we read the left side of the arrow as "the square root of one," then? Is this set in a base 10 system? Relevant? Do any of the numbers represent or stand for something (rather than just being a number in an expression)? If so, "1"? ".5"? "15"? Basically I think I'm asking, can this puzzle be solved using only our mathematical knowledge? Or is there some outside context we need to explore? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 76 Registered: 4-2009 |
You said .5 was an exponent. Could we read the left side of the arrow as "the square root of one," then? Absolutely Is this set in a base 10 system? yes Relevant? No Do any of the numbers represent or stand for something (rather than just being a number in an expression)? Yes! If so, "1"? ".5"? "15"? This one Basically I think I'm asking, can this puzzle be solved using only our mathematical knowledge? No Or is there some outside context we need to explore? Yes | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 231 Registered: 4-2009 |
But the square root of one is one! So presumably there is a reason you are expressing it in this particular way? Or is that just to make it look more confusing, lol? Would it be true to say that 1^x --> 15 where x can take any value? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 78 Registered: 4-2009 |
But the square root of one is one! Really? So presumably there is a reason you are expressing it in this particular way? Or is that just to make it look more confusing, lol? No, I could have also used the square root symbol if it was possible to, and if I knew how. The way I have expressed the square root is irrelevant. Would it be true to say that 1^x --> 15 where x can take any value? No | ||
| Kalira (Kalira)
New member Username: Kalira Post Number: 209 Registered: 2-2009 |
Actually, square root of one can also be -1. That relevant? Or should we be looking at the phrase "plus or minus 1"? Does the fifteen stand for a group of fifteen similar things? Or one thing for which the number fifteen is relevant? Is/are 15 alive? People? Animals? Plants? Objects? Locations? | ||
| Ohlala8 (Ohlala8)
New member Username: Ohlala8 Post Number: 101 Registered: 6-2009 |
Should 15 be read as "fifteen"? or one-five? or something else? Is some other kind of mathematical notation relevant? Code? I know you said it was set in base ten, but is any binary-like representation of another number relevant? There are 10 kinds of people in this world. Those who understand binary and those who don't. | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 79 Registered: 4-2009 |
Actually, square root of one can also be -1. That relevant? Yes! Or should we be looking at the phrase "plus or minus 1"? Yes, if what you mean is that you look at the LHS as 'plus one or minus one' Does the fifteen stand for a group of fifteen similar things? No Or one thing for which the number fifteen is relevant? Yes Is/are 15 alive? It is not a living organism. People? Animals? Plants? So no to these three. Objects? Yes, with a tiny 'ish' Locations? No Should 15 be read as "fifteen"? Yes or one-five? or something else? Is some other kind of mathematical notation relevant? No Code? Yes-ish I know you said it was set in base ten, but is any binary-like representation of another number relevant? No | ||
| Shanky0o (Shanky0o)
New member Username: Shanky0o Post Number: 1 Registered: 7-2009 |
can 15 be replaced by some other number? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 80 Registered: 4-2009 |
can 15 be replaced by some other number? No | ||
| Ohlala8 (Ohlala8)
New member Username: Ohlala8 Post Number: 119 Registered: 6-2009 |
Actually, the square root of one is just one. If we were solving the equation x^.5=1, then x would be plus or minus one, but the square root implies just the positive result. Regardless, the expression can be read now as "positive or negative one relates in an arrowy way to fifteen"? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 81 Registered: 4-2009 |
Actually, the square root of one is just one. If we were solving the equation x^.5=1, then x would be plus or minus one, but the square root implies just the positive result. I could go into a long explanation about why this is completely untrue, which would involve quadratic equations and the like, but I won't do it here. If you want me to, though, do tell. Regardless, the expression can be read now as "positive or negative one relates in an arrowy way to fifteen"? I'll help you out a bit here and correct that to " positive and negative one relates in an arrowy way to fifteen". | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 82 Registered: 4-2009 |
Ok, now you've got the math finished. The rest is pure lateral thinking. Should go faster now! | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 83 Registered: 4-2009 |
Haven't seen any questions for a while, so here's a **************BIG HINT**************** Go back two pages to the 'Lateral Puzzles' page. One of the words there is quite (although not too much) relevant, and will prod you in the right direction. | ||
| Ohlala8 (Ohlala8)
New member Username: Ohlala8 Post Number: 195 Registered: 6-2009 |
Is your puzzle about aardvarks? dwarves? ice blocks? roulette? slots? or even zombies? :-) | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 84 Registered: 4-2009 |
Is your puzzle about aardvarks? dwarves? ice blocks? roulette? Relevant slots? This too or even zombies? :-) | ||
| Ohlala8 (Ohlala8)
New member Username: Ohlala8 Post Number: 205 Registered: 6-2009 |
Is fifteen an amount of money? A number on a roulette wheel? Any kind of potential winning? Do you actually start with the positive and negative one and end up with the 15, or could the arrow be double sided? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 85 Registered: 4-2009 |
Is fifteen an amount of money? Yes-ish A number on a roulette wheel? No Any kind of potential winning? Yes-ish Do you actually start with the positive and negative one and end up with the 15 This one , or could the arrow be double sided? No, it cannot | ||
| Ohlala8 (Ohlala8)
New member Username: Ohlala8 Post Number: 315 Registered: 6-2009 |
Does this "equation" always work? In other words, every time you have positive and negative one, do you end up with 15? Or is this just the most likely outcome? Or the average of all possible outcomes? Or the outcome in one particular situation? With one particular person? Is the positive and negative one also an amount of money/chips? Negative one referring (presumably) to a loss or debt? If someone started with positive and negative one and ended up with 15, would that be a pleasant circumstance? neutral? unpleasant? | ||
| Kalira (Kalira)
New member Username: Kalira Post Number: 221 Registered: 2-2009 |
Is 15 a number of chips placed in a bet? or the value of the chips placed in a bet? Is 15 the number? value? of chips that might have been won? Do +1 and -1 refer to possible locations on the roulette wheel (i.e. the ball landing to either side of the pocket it landed in)? or on the betting layout? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 88 Registered: 4-2009 |
Does this "equation" always work? In other words, every time you have positive and negative one, do you end up with 15? Or is this just the most likely outcome? This one Or the average of all possible outcomes? Or the outcome in one particular situation? With one particular person? No Is the positive and negative one also an amount of money/chips? No Negative one referring (presumably) to a loss or debt? So no If someone started with positive and negative one and ended up with 15, would that be a pleasant circumstance? This one neutral? unpleasant? Is 15 a number of chips placed in a bet? No or the value of the chips placed in a bet? No Is 15 the number? value? of chips that might have been won? No Do +1 and -1 refer to possible locations on the roulette wheel (i.e. the ball landing to either side of the pocket it landed in)? No or on the betting layout? No | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 40 Registered: 7-2009 |
Does this apply to all kinds of betting? All kinds of casino betting? Only certain games (but more than just Roulette and slots)? Only Roulette and Slots? Do +1 and -1 refer to odds? An even-odds bet? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 89 Registered: 4-2009 |
Does this apply to all kinds of betting? No All kinds of casino betting? No Only certain games (but more than just Roulette and slots)? I'll clarify this, and tell you that it's not roulette or slots, but it is a casino game Only Roulette and Slots? Do +1 and -1 refer to odds? An even-odds bet? No to both | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 41 Registered: 7-2009 |
Blackjack (21)? Poker? Craps? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 90 Registered: 4-2009 |
Blackjack (21)? Blackjack it is! Poker? Craps? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 59 Registered: 7-2009 |
Is someone counting cards? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 93 Registered: 4-2009 |
Is someone counting cards? YES!! You've got the crux of the puzzle, now there's just one important element you have to figure out, and that shouldn't be too hard. . | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 63 Registered: 7-2009 |
Does the 15 refer to the value shown in the counter's cards? In another player's cards? In teh dealer's cards? For example, does the 15 refer to the rule that you never hit when the dealer is showing a 15? Or is 15 the value that the card counter has reached in their counting endeavors? And this tells them to do something or not do something? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 94 Registered: 4-2009 |
Does the 15 refer to the value shown in the counter's cards? In another player's cards? In teh dealer's cards? For example, does the 15 refer to the rule that you never hit when the dealer is showing a 15? Or is 15 the value that the card counter has reached in their counting endeavors? And this tells them to do something or not do something? None of these | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 67 Registered: 7-2009 |
Is 15 the name of the specific counting system used? The size of the bet he placed when the count reached a certain total? Is 15... The number of something counted (but not necessarily the card count)? The size of something? The location of something (e.g. 15th avenue, the 15th floor)? The value of something? The name of something? The rank of something? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 95 Registered: 4-2009 |
Is 15 the name of the specific counting system used? The size of the bet he placed when the count reached a certain total? Is 15... The number of something counted (but not necessarily the card count)? The size of something? The location of something (e.g. 15th avenue, the 15th floor)? The value of something? Yes, for svv of 'value' The name of something? The rank of something? No to all the unanswered questions | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 69 Registered: 7-2009 |
Money? Points? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 97 Registered: 4-2009 |
Money? Yes-ish Points? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 109 Registered: 4-2009 |
No questions? You're already very close to the answer! Just a few questions more! | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 109 Registered: 7-2009 |
I've been completely stuck and was hoping someone else would jump in with another questions to get it moving again. I can't think of any value that's yesishly money. Unless...Is it fake money? Like on a computer game? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 110 Registered: 4-2009 |
I've been completely stuck and was hoping someone else would jump in with another questions to get it moving again. I can't think of any value that's yesishly money. Unless...Is it fake money? Like on a computer game? No. But if you read all the posts from the beginning, you might get something useful about that 15. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 120 Registered: 7-2009 |
This is what I see about 15: It's yesishly a code, a value, a potential winning, and money. You start with -1 and +1 and end up with 15. 15 isn't what it appears to be. 15 isn't a guaranteed outcome, it's just the most likely outcome. It does not apply to one particular person. 15 is a pleasant outcome. But it's not exactly money or potential winnings. And it's also not points, which led me to assume that it has nothing to do with comps that you get from the casino after playing for a while. Ack. Still got nothing. Are any of the above statements what you would consider to be the "something useful?" Hmm. Would it help to know more about the counting system used? Is the specific system relevant? General type of system? Is it a team system? Individual system? Yesishly code: "O" is the 15th letter of the alphabet. Relevant in any way? I can't think of any monetary relevance of the letter O, but it's worth a try, anyway. Also, is the positive outcome positive for the person doing the counting, or positive for the casino? If for the casino, does 15 represent "O" which represents a big fat 0? For example 0 winnings is the most likely outcome for card counters because casinos have put so many precautions in place that card counting is hard to do well now? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 112 Registered: 4-2009 |
This is what I see about 15: It's yesishly a code, a value, a potential winning, and money. All these are extremely useful, especially the first and second. You start with -1 and +1 and end up with 15. 15 isn't what it appears to be. 15 isn't a guaranteed outcome, it's just the most likely outcome. It does not apply to one particular person. 15 is a pleasant outcome. But it's not exactly money or potential winnings. And it's also not points, which led me to assume that it has nothing to do with comps that you get from the casino after playing for a while. The rest are just details that came up because I have to answer questions truthfully :p Ack. Still got nothing. Are any of the above statements what you would consider to be the "something useful?" Hmm. Would it help to know more about the counting system used? No Is the specific system relevant? General type of system? Is it a team system? This, but this is very, very slightly relevant. Can be considered irrelevant too, without any harm. Individual system? Yesishly code: "O" is the 15th letter of the alphabet. Relevant in any way? I can't think of any monetary relevance of the letter O, but it's worth a try, anyway. This example is not relevant, but I'll tell you that it is code. Also, is the positive outcome positive for the person doing the counting This one , or positive for the casino? If for the casino, does 15 represent "O" which represents a big fat 0? For example 0 winnings is the most likely outcome for card counters because casinos have put so many precautions in place that card counting is hard to do well now? So no to all of these. Okay, I'll tell you this, if you base your queries on all the information that you've got right now, and only that, you can keep asking a zillion questions, you still won't get the solution. There's an aspect of this puzzle that still has to be discovered, and the puzzle cannot be solved without it. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 121 Registered: 7-2009 |
Is "15" code for a name? A location? A group to which someone belongs? A certain quantity of money? What you do with the money when you get it? A letter of the alphabet? Another number? A concept? A non-monetary value (e.g. a rank)? A year? An action? An age? 7 letters in the word fifteen. Relevant? Is the person who is counting also cheating in some way? Are they undercover? Are they employed by the casino? Are they even in a casino? If not, is it relevant? Are any details about the counter relevant? If so, age? gender? nationality? occupation? religion? Also, to verify an earlier question, the code is specifically related to "fifteen" not "one" and "five", right? Is there another relevant person besides the card counter, his or her team members, and the dealer? Are all of these people relevant? If no, which ones are? If you turn the number 15 upside down, it says "Si," which can mean yes or if depending on language and accent placement. Relevant? It could also be "Sl" but I have no idea what "sl" could mean. Is the numeral 15 relevant? Or the word fifteen? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 113 Registered: 4-2009 |
Is "15" code for a name? A location? A group to which someone belongs? A certain quantity of money? No-ish What you do with the money when you get it? A letter of the alphabet? Another number? A concept? A non-monetary value (e.g. a rank)? A year? An action? An age? No to rest. 7 letters in the word fifteen. Relevant? No Is the person who is counting also cheating in some way? Are they undercover? Are they employed by the casino? No to all Are they even in a casino? Yes If not, is it relevant? Are any details about the counter relevant? Yes If so, age? This gender? nationality? It is a certain given nationality, but in actuality could have been any. occupation? This religion? Also, to verify an earlier question, the code is specifically related to "fifteen" not "one" and "five", right? This Is there another relevant person besides the card counter, his or her team members, and the dealer? Yes. And there is more than one counter Are all of these people relevant? The dealer is not relevant. If no, which ones are? If you turn the number 15 upside down, it says "Si," which can mean yes or if depending on language and accent placement. Relevant? It could also be "Sl" but I have no idea what "sl" could mean. All irrelevant Is the numeral 15 relevant? Yes Or the word fifteen? No | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 122 Registered: 7-2009 |
By "more than one counter" do you mean the people on the same team, or are there multiple teams? If multiple teams, are they competing against one another? Other relevant person: someone sponsoring the counter? counter's parent? counter's child? Someone who put a side bet on the game? Security guard? Other casino staff? counter's spouse? event organizer? counter's trainer? Is there some sort of an event going on (besides just a game of blackjack)? A contest? Is a college scholarship involved? Age: Child (up to 12)? Teenager (12-17)? Underage adult (18-20)? 20s? 30s? 40s? 50s? 60s? 70s? 80s? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 114 Registered: 4-2009 |
By "more than one counter" do you mean the people on the same team This one , or are there multiple teams? If multiple teams, are they competing against one another? Other relevant person: someone sponsoring the counter? counter's parent? counter's child? Someone who put a side bet on the game? Security guard? Other casino staff? counter's spouse? event organizer? counter's trainer? Closest Is there some sort of an event going on (besides just a game of blackjack)? A contest? No Is a college scholarship involved? Not directly, but yes Age: Child (up to 12)? Teenager (12-17)? This or the next one, could be any of the two Underage adult (18-20)? 20s? 30s? 40s? 50s? 60s? 70s? 80s? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 127 Registered: 7-2009 |
Is the counter's teacher relevant? Is this some sort of a school-related activity? Is 15 a grade they hope to get? Are the counters actually playing blackjack, or just watching? If they're playing, does it matter how they're playing illegally? Fake ID? Or are they in a country where it's not illegal to play when you're that age? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 116 Registered: 4-2009 |
Is the counter's teacher relevant? Yes! Is this some sort of a school-related activity? Is 15 a grade they hope to get? Neither of these. Are the counters actually playing blackjack, or just watching? Playing If they're playing, does it matter how they're playing illegally? Fake ID? Not completely sure, but I believe it's this. Or are they in a country where it's not illegal to play when you're that age? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 130 Registered: 7-2009 |
When you say that a scholarship is indirectly relevant, is that just because they're students? Or is it more than that? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 117 Registered: 4-2009 |
When you say that a scholarship is indirectly relevant, is that just because they're students? Or is it more than that? This one. I'll tell you this - it's a Harvard Med. scholarship. And only one of the students is relevant to the scholarship. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 154 Registered: 7-2009 |
Is this related to a movie? The movie 21? I saw it, but I can't remember anything about "15" in it. | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 133 Registered: 4-2009 |
Is this related to a movie? The movie 21? Yes!! I saw it, but I can't remember anything about "15" in it. Since it's been long since anyone's posted here, and Noel's almost got it anyways, I think it's time for a **************SPOILER**************** The puzzle is based on the movie 21. In the movie, Ben's teacher (at MIT) , Micky Rosa, teaches him a card counting system that gives them excellent odds at winning Blackjack, and Rosa and a team of his students (including Ben) go to Vegas every weekend to make some serious money at the casinos. There, as an aid to their counting system, they follow a code to convey the current card count. In the code, the word 'paycheck' stands for the number 15. Also, the card counting system employs only the use of adding or subtracting 1. Thus, + or - 1 gives you 15 (their 'paycheck', of sorts.) Thanks for playing, everyone! |
