41 replies to this topic

[araver]

Mystery Operation II

Finally: a message was received from outer space!

At first glance it seems that it contains a sequence of 9 numbers coded as beeps and pauses. Large pauses group 3 numbers together, suggesting a relation might exist between them.

4 */* 2 = 5
12 */* 17 = 28
30 */* 10 = 36

Scientists immediately start transmitting our standard welcome message containing mathematical constants. For a while it looks as though no one listening until suddenly a second message is received.
This message repeats only 2 numbers for a long period of time.

48 */* 73 

Maybe we're supposed to respond to it in order to make contact. Can you help scientists figure out what we should answer?

Edited by araver, 10 December 2010 - 06:01 AM.

[k-man]

Spoiler for couple of questions

1) Does the narrative contain any clues that help solve the problem?
2) Is the color coding of the numbers important? If yes, how was it derived from the beeps and pauses?

[araver]

Spoiler for couple of questions

1) Does the narrative contain any clues that help solve the problem?
2) Is the color coding of the numbers important? If yes, how was it derived from the beeps and pauses?

Spoiler for Answers to your questions

1) Not really. Other than establishing the setting and the fact that there is a relation /separation into triplets.
2) Colors are unintentional.
It's just something the forum does to things put in code. I guess it interprets everything after /* as a comment until it reaches a closing */.
Please ignore the colors.

[LReese]

Might be a dumb questin but what exactly are the */*'s supposed to represent?

[superprismatic]

Might be a dumb questin but what exactly are the */*'s supposed to represent?

Look at Mystery Operation which explains it.

[araver]

Look at Mystery Operation which explains it.

Thank you, superprismatic.
Indeed the setting is the same as in that puzzle (forgot to make it more obvious this time), but the operation is not the same, of course.

[araver]

As usual, adding another example to the challenge:

4 */* 2 = 5
12 */* 17 = 28
30 */* 10 = 36
100 */*	93 = 186

[Molly Mae]

I actually had a list of questions, but I answered some of them myself through logical deduction. Others are below.

Will any two real numbers always return an answer that is a real number?

Does -4 */* -2 = 5? -5? Or is there even a logical answer?

I've also discovered that while a */* b = c, typically xa */* xb does not equal xc (if we disregard x=0, x=1, or [maybe] a=b=c).

[araver]

I actually had a list of questions, but I answered some of them myself through logical deduction. Others are below.

Will any two real numbers always return an answer that is a real number?

Yes.

Does -4 */* -2 = 5? -5? Or is there even a logical answer?

There is a logical answer. It's neither of those.

I've also discovered that while a */* b = c, typically xa */* xb does not equal xc (if we disregard x=0, x=1, or [maybe] a=b=c).

That's not a question, but I guess you wanted me to say "yes" to that so: Yes.

[Molly Mae]

Hmmm...

Spoiler for Is this a correct application?

-4 */* -2 = 0

I'm caught up in matrices.