12 or 18

Post by **Leisher** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 3:46 pm

Today's latest internet argument.

People are torn on if the answer is 12 or 18. Others keep saying "not enough information". Most of the people, including in this article, keep making it a series problem.

When in reality this simple equation solves it and fits the "missing" 10, 5, and 4.

Post by **TheCatt** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 3:55 pm

The 18 people are failing, as there is no number before 9, so we must assume that each problem is self-contained and based only on X. 12

Post by **Cakedaddy** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 4:09 pm

I immediately came up with 12 and I don't even see how they get 18.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 4:18 pm

Usually it's PEMDAS that confuses people.

Post by **thibodeaux** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 4:28 pm

None of those "equalities" are true, so an idiot wrote this problem anyway.

The correct way to write the problem is:

find f(x) such that
f(9) = 90
f(8) = 72
...
what is f(3)?

Further there should be some constraint on f(x), like "f(x) is a polynomial" or something.

Post by **TheCatt** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 4:30 pm

thibodeaux wrote: ↑Thu Oct 20, 2022 4:28 pm None of those "equalities" are true, so an idiot wrote this problem anyway.

The correct way to write the problem is:

I wonder why your posts never go viral.

Post by **thibodeaux** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 4:31 pm

I only post here, nobody else is smart enough to understand.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 5:29 pm

I like turtles.