79 replies to this topic

[gwg]

If the question were posed using the digits 13 then you might be able to use the base-9 'logic'....

However, the question was posed with the text 'thirteen'. The word thirteen is 13(base-10), period. if the text were 'one three, base nine'....then, ok.

Edited by gwg, 29 February 2008 - 08:45 PM.

[not me]

What is Correct - Back to the Logic Puzzles
Is it correct that seven and five is thirteen or seven and five are thirteen?

Spoiler for Solution

What is Correct - solution
Of course, adding seven to five makes twelve and not thirteen.

u got me i had think for second

[SpelChexRool]

I suppose it's also too late to point out that the digits '13' in base-9 are equal to twelve in base-10. The number system that Mythx is looking for is base-11. However, like you said, the nomenclature 'thirteen' is only meaningful in base-10, since it is a linguistic blend of three and ten (a number that by definition cannot exist in base-9).

I do have to admit that it was a clever direction to go, though... It reminds me of the old computer joke:
There are only 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't...

If the question were posed using the digits 13 then you might be able to use the base-9 'logic'....

However, the question was posed with the text 'thirteen'. The word thirteen is 13(base-10), period. if the text were 'one three, base nine'....then, ok.

[Catlo]

7+5=12 not 13. Also, as an answer to the is or are part of the question, it's are. This is of course if grammar still means s***.

[Talha]

both are wrong 7+5=12

[Emmz]

Lol i neerly fell for it im soo stupid [/font]

[hopstop]

Neither, 5 and 7 are TWELVE... learn to count.

the way the question is worded it makes it a grammer question, in which case one of them is correct, if its a maths question then neither are correct.

[Lost in space]

What is Correct - Back to the Logic Puzzles
Is it correct that seven and five is thirteen or seven and five are thirteen?

Spoiler for Solution

What is Correct - solution
Of course, adding seven to five makes twelve and not thirteen.

seven and five are numbers - you can add them of course!

[Justy]

I don't see how there has been so much confusion and pointless discussion about this one.
This is intended as a children's riddle/question.

Would there be confusion if the question said

"Is it correct that seven add five is thirteen OR that seven add five are thirteen?"

It doesn't matter at all about the grammatical sentence because even if the grammar is incorrect the entire sense of the statements is false.
Also the question does not imply that either statement is correct. "It is correct ..." at the start would imply this.

[dawgsrule93]

First of all, 7+5=12, not 13.

In math, when spoken verbally, the correct grammar is "Seven and five is twelve because you are combining seven and five to make a single whole of twelve. Twelve is being used as a collective noun in this sense.