Hard One Word Wonder

Instructions

One Word Wonders are puzzles where the answer to the puzzle is exactly one word. For a better idea on how to solve this puzzle see an example

Hard One Word Wonder

Murdoctor

wants to try to stump you with this puzzle that was published on Fri Jul 04, 2008 08:50 AM

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12 Comments

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soccer_ref

Posted on Fri Jul 04, 2008 09:47 AM |

Wow! Solved it by trial and error. That was hard! Sorry for all the Tanganites who hate math.

Philana

Posted on Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:26 AM |

I used Excel, but the algebraic method would have been faster.

soccer_ref

Posted on Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:52 AM |

Well, at least you can eliminate more than 1/3 of the 2-digit numbers as being too small to produce a 4-digit answer.

hatemachine

Posted on Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:56 AM |

Owwww....math make head hurtie...

tempus42

Posted on Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:09 AM |

I'm missing a key part of the equation. In what way does 12 = 34 ?

must67

Posted on Fri Jul 04, 2008 02:58 PM |

The equation(not really) should be
a (a=1) = b*(b+1)

the a's are not multiplied
So 12=3*4

threehojos

Posted on Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:29 PM |

math is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad

soccer_ref

Posted on Fri Jul 04, 2008 01:57 PM |

[6] Right. So if you realize that the two 2-digit numbers on the right side have to be multiplied to give you a 4-digit number on the left side, you can quickly reduce the number of calculator attmpts you make...because anything 31 or below only yields a 3-digit number.

And a few attempts at numbers from 32 to 99 should point you to the approximate location of the correct numbers.

Donimo

Posted on Fri Jul 04, 2008 02:15 PM |

[7] No, math is coooooooooool! Trouble is you have to get through the basics, which are often boring, and then struggle with the mental gymnastics, which is hard. But many a time in a math class we'd get a result and I'd think "Wow, cool!" Even if you don't understand them, isn't the thought of imaginary numbers the least bit intriguing?

I was able to do the puzzle algebraically. You do have to know how to get to a quadratic equation, then use the quadratic formula. If you can't recall your algebra, use trial and error.

ScrappyChiq_n_Husband

Posted on Fri Jul 04, 2008 02:26 PM |

agree with [9]...math is awesome...you just have to be logical and pay attention to every detail

bcgrote

Posted on Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:54 AM |

K, I have numbers that fit. I apply this "key", and I get a silly word that doesn't work. The reverse would have been a GREAT answer, but it didn't work either.

Murdoctor make head hurtie....