A math problem is able to have multiple right solutions

This "riddle" has raised more than one million comments on Facebook.

What would be your answer to the question mark? The most common answers are 40 and 96... Does anyone could say why? Hence if it is given the first terms in a sequence and the sequence is not well defined, the next term is able has multiple right solutions, even infinite solutions. For instance, in the next problem Find the solution which I gave one solution, is able to have infinite answers, even the other answers given in the problem can be right... Just only have to take polynomials with two variables x,y which satisfies the conditions, for example,can you find a polynomial with variables x, y satisfying the first conditions and such that f(13,4) = 123 or f(10,9) = 123?... So my conclusion is this one: Can you post one riddle where different right solutions are valid?and why my "riddle" is able to have 40 or 96 as valid solutions?can you find other right solution and say why?

Note by Guillermo Templado
5 years, 1 month ago

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Comments

I think they expect 96 as the answer if they do this. a+b=a×(b+1)a+b=a×(b+1) But like @Nihar Mahajan said you can have \infty solutions

Vignesh S - 5 years, 1 month ago

The riddle has infinitely many solutions using LZOB or Lagrange interpolation, since the choices are not provided.

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 1 month ago

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Why are you assuming the function is a polynomial? (just asking)

A Former Brilliant Member - 5 years, 1 month ago

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Its not wrong to assume a polynomial right?

Vignesh S - 5 years, 1 month ago

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@Vignesh S I could be any arbitrary function of two variables for that matter as we've not been given that the function IS a polynomial.

A Former Brilliant Member - 5 years, 1 month ago

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@A Former Brilliant Member So it can be \infty if its a polynomial and if its some other function it can have finite or infinite. Therefore in general it can be said infinite

Vignesh S - 5 years, 1 month ago

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@Vignesh S please, be calm. I can not answer to everybody....

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 1 month ago

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@Guillermo Templado Hey I was asking @Deeparaj Bhat. And it was a comment and not a question

Vignesh S - 5 years, 1 month ago

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@Vignesh S ok, sorry, my apologies

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 1 month ago

@A Former Brilliant Member please, be calm. I can not answer to everybody

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 1 month ago

How is the answer 96 or 40?

A Former Brilliant Member - 5 years, 1 month ago

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I got 96 but not 40.

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 1 month ago

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@Nihar Mahajan ok, 96 can be got of this form, {1+4=14+1=52+5=25+2=123+6=36+3=21\begin{cases}1 + 4 = 1 \cdot 4 + 1 = 5 \\ 2 + 5 = 2 \cdot 5 + 2 = 12 \\ 3 + 6 = 3 \cdot 6 + 3 = 21\end{cases} so I can say 8+11=811+8=968 + 11 = 8 \cdot 11 + 8 = 96. Now, we are going to get 40,ok...please, be cal, wait my answer,haha..

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 1 month ago

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@Guillermo Templado Wait, I will wait. (LOL)

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 1 month ago

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@Nihar Mahajan Now, we are going 40.. We can consider (1,4), (2,5), (3,6) and (8,11) to be the first terms of one sequence in N2\mathbb{N}^2 and 1+4=51 + 4 = 5 and we can define for the next terms its sum added to the sum obtained before. Hence 2+5=7+ sum obtained before =7+5=122 + 5 = 7 + \text{ sum obtained before } = 7 + 5 = 12 , now 3+6=9+ sum obtained before =9+12=21 3 + 6 = 9 + \text{ sum obtained before } = 9 + 12 = 21 so 8+11=19+ sum obtained before =19+21=408 + 11 = 19 + \text{ sum obtained before } = 19 + 21 = 40

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 1 month ago

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@Guillermo Templado Oh! I considered 8,118,11 as the eighth term!

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 1 month ago

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@Nihar Mahajan but, they can be considered the first terms in a sequence. Now I'm going with the Lagrange interpolation

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 1 month ago

please, be calm. I can not answer to everybody

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 1 month ago

please, be calm. I can not answer to everybody

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 1 month ago

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We have f(5,3)=28, f(12,10)=222 ,f(9,1)=810, f(4,2)=26, f(8,3)=511,f(10,1)=911, f(7,3)=410 f(5,3) = 28, \space f(12,10) = 222 \space , f(9,1) = 810, \space f(4,2) = 26, \space f(8,3) = 511, f(10,1) = 911, \space f(7,3) = 410. This problem using Lagrange interpolation is able to have \infty answers. For example, I want furthemore f(13,9)=123.f(13,9) = 123. Is evrything allright so far? haha. Ok, I'm going to look for a polynomial with variables x,y and some constants a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i, ...fullfiling these conditions,(notice I'm going to repeat this factor (y -1) and (y - 3), I would not to do it, but I'm going to do it for clarity) so the polynomial has to be f(x,y)=a(x5)(y3)(x12)(y10)(x9)(y1)(x4)(y2)(x8)(y3)(x10)(y1)(x7)(y3)+\small f(x,y) = a(x -5)(y -3)(x -12)(y -10)(x - 9)(y -1)(x - 4)(y -2)(x - 8)(y -3)(x - 10)(y -1)(x - 7)(y - 3) + +b(x5)(y3)(x12)(y10)(x9)(y1)(x4)(y2)(x8)(y3)(x10)(y1)(x13)(y9)+\small + b(x -5)(y -3)(x -12)(y -10)(x - 9)(y -1)(x - 4)(y -2)(x - 8)(y -3)(x - 10)(y -1)(x - 13)(y -9) + +c(x5)(y3)(x12)(y10)(x9)(y1)(x4)(y2)(x8)(y3)(x7)(y3)(x13)(y9)+\small + c(x -5)(y -3)(x -12)(y -10)(x - 9)(y -1)(x - 4)(y -2)(x - 8)(y -3)(x - 7)(y - 3)(x -13)(y - 9) + +d(x5)(y3)(x12)(y10)(x9)(y1)(x4)(y2)(x10)(y1)(x7)(y3)(x13)(y9)+...\small + d(x -5)(y -3)(x -12)(y -10)(x - 9)(y -1)(x - 4)(y -2)(x - 10)(y -1)(x - 7)(y - 3)(x - 13)(y - 9) +... and get the constants a,b ,c ,d e,f, g, h,... fulfilling the requisites... so this problem has \infty right solutions... Ok, now I'm going to eat... Later I'll review the comments

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 1 month ago

Exactly, for the problem Find the solution you can use Lagrange interpolation with two variables, please wait a bit, and I'll give the answer

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 1 month ago

52

Assuming there is something fundamental operation that isn't explicit, just like the assumption that the last answer is also added to the next equation... Goes like this... The pattern is multiplying the second number secretly by a sequential while number, just like secretly having the last answer added to the next equation...

1+(4[×1])=5 2+(5[×2])=12 3+(6[×3])=21 8+(11[×4])=52

This makes all the answers correct.

Demo Star - 3 years, 9 months ago

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1+(4[×1])=5

2+(5[×2])=12

3+(6[×3])=21

8+(11[×4])=5

Demo Star - 3 years, 9 months ago

The answer is 40. :P
In this riddle the answer of the previous statement is added to the terms of the original statement.
First statement starts with 1 + 4 = 5\color{#D61F06}{\text{5}}.
Second statement:- 5\color{#D61F06}{\text{5}} + 2 + 5 = 12\color{#3D99F6}{\text {12}}.
Third statement:- 12\color{#3D99F6}{\text {12}} + 3 + 6 = 21\color{#20A900}{\text {21}}.
Fourth statement should be 21\color{#20A900}{\text {21}} + 8 + 11 = 40\boxed{40}.

Ashish Menon - 5 years, 1 month ago

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1+(4[×1])=5

2+(5[×2])=12

3+(6[×3])=21

8+(11[×4])=52

Demo Star - 3 years, 9 months ago

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That was supposed to be a clarification of my own post... Sorry. 'Doing this from my phone while walking to the store.

Demo Star - 3 years, 9 months ago
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