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  3. 2 + 2 = 5 ( Silly puzzle of the Day) [SOLUTION ADDED]

2 + 2 = 5 ( Silly puzzle of the Day) [SOLUTION ADDED]

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  • R Raj Lal

    In a "Real" world, there are a lot of people, who takes 2 with 2 and make it a 5 Well the silly question is, Can a "mathematician in you" also do this ? TAKE two 2's and any number of mathematical operations AND make it EQUAL TO 5 Another question to ponder , Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, facing it. Raise your left hand. Raise your right hand. Look at your reflection. When you raise your left hand your reflection raises what appears to be his right hand. But when you tilt your head up, your reflection does too, and does not appear to tilt his/her head down. Why is it that the mirror appears to reverse left and right, but not up and down? * there is no genius in google-dept Solution here[^]

    Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


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    mav northwind
    wrote on last edited by
    #7

    Take two 2's to make a 5? Easy: Ceil(Sqrt(22)) :) Or isn't Ceil() a "mathematical operation" in your definition?

    Regards, mav -- Black holes are the places where God divided by 0...

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    • R Raj Lal

      In a "Real" world, there are a lot of people, who takes 2 with 2 and make it a 5 Well the silly question is, Can a "mathematician in you" also do this ? TAKE two 2's and any number of mathematical operations AND make it EQUAL TO 5 Another question to ponder , Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, facing it. Raise your left hand. Raise your right hand. Look at your reflection. When you raise your left hand your reflection raises what appears to be his right hand. But when you tilt your head up, your reflection does too, and does not appear to tilt his/her head down. Why is it that the mirror appears to reverse left and right, but not up and down? * there is no genius in google-dept Solution here[^]

      Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


      JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
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      R Offline
      R Offline
      Rob Graham
      wrote on last edited by
      #8

      Quartz... wrote:

      Why is it that the mirror appears to reverse left and right, but not up and down?

      The mirror doesn't rotate anything. It reflects the image back without any rotation about any axis. A human observer looking at you from the mirrors location would have to rotate about his vertical axis, thus reversing his left and right from your perspective

      J R 2 Replies Last reply
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      • R Raj Lal

        In a "Real" world, there are a lot of people, who takes 2 with 2 and make it a 5 Well the silly question is, Can a "mathematician in you" also do this ? TAKE two 2's and any number of mathematical operations AND make it EQUAL TO 5 Another question to ponder , Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, facing it. Raise your left hand. Raise your right hand. Look at your reflection. When you raise your left hand your reflection raises what appears to be his right hand. But when you tilt your head up, your reflection does too, and does not appear to tilt his/her head down. Why is it that the mirror appears to reverse left and right, but not up and down? * there is no genius in google-dept Solution here[^]

        Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


        JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
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        Ed Poore
        wrote on last edited by
        #9

        Can't remember the exact solution but I'm pretty sure it involves multiplying by infinity, adding something or other (because infinity + x is infinity) then cancelling out the infinities resulting in the imbalanced equation. I think anyway :scratches head:


        I have no idea what I just said. But my intentions were sincere.

        Poore Design

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        • R Rama Krishna Vavilala

          Out of curiosity, where are all these puzzles coming from? Have you bought a book?

          R Offline
          R Offline
          Raj Lal
          wrote on last edited by
          #10

          Actually i am constantly in a look for that "mysterious" kind of puzzles which have the "aha" solution. I have a huge collection of them, so far 80, Some of them are from books but also from a lot of other sources.

          Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


          JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
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          • R Raj Lal

            In a "Real" world, there are a lot of people, who takes 2 with 2 and make it a 5 Well the silly question is, Can a "mathematician in you" also do this ? TAKE two 2's and any number of mathematical operations AND make it EQUAL TO 5 Another question to ponder , Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, facing it. Raise your left hand. Raise your right hand. Look at your reflection. When you raise your left hand your reflection raises what appears to be his right hand. But when you tilt your head up, your reflection does too, and does not appear to tilt his/her head down. Why is it that the mirror appears to reverse left and right, but not up and down? * there is no genius in google-dept Solution here[^]

            Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


            JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
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            J Offline
            Josh Smith
            wrote on last edited by
            #11

            Quartz... wrote:

            All you have to do is TAKE two 2's and any number of mathematical operations AND make it EQUAL TO 5

            2 + 2 + 1 = 5 You never said that you can only use two 2's.

            :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
            We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

            R R 2 Replies Last reply
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            • R Rob Graham

              Quartz... wrote:

              Why is it that the mirror appears to reverse left and right, but not up and down?

              The mirror doesn't rotate anything. It reflects the image back without any rotation about any axis. A human observer looking at you from the mirrors location would have to rotate about his vertical axis, thus reversing his left and right from your perspective

              J Offline
              J Offline
              Josh Smith
              wrote on last edited by
              #12

              Rob Graham wrote:

              A human observer looking at you from the mirrors location would have to rotate about his vertical axis, thus reversing his left and right from your perspective

              That makes a lot of sense. Nice one!

              :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
              We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

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              • J Josh Smith

                Quartz... wrote:

                All you have to do is TAKE two 2's and any number of mathematical operations AND make it EQUAL TO 5

                2 + 2 + 1 = 5 You never said that you can only use two 2's.

                :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
                We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

                R Offline
                R Offline
                Rob Manderson
                wrote on last edited by
                #13

                (2 + 2) + 2/2 = 5 Using only 2's :)

                Rob Manderson I'm working on a version for Visual Lisp++ My blog http://blogs.wdevs.com/ultramaroon/[^] My blog mirror http://robmanderson.blogspot.com[^]

                J 1 Reply Last reply
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                • J Josh Smith

                  Quartz... wrote:

                  All you have to do is TAKE two 2's and any number of mathematical operations AND make it EQUAL TO 5

                  2 + 2 + 1 = 5 You never said that you can only use two 2's.

                  :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
                  We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  Raj Lal
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #14

                  Full points :-D Have a nice weekend

                  Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


                  JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
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                  • J Joe Q

                    Quartz... wrote:

                    In a "Real" world, there are a lot of people, who takes 2 with 2 and make it a 5

                    Use extreamly large values of 2! Joe Q

                    J Offline
                    J Offline
                    Josh Smith
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #15

                    Joe Q wrote:

                    Use extreamly large values of 2!

                    Is that like when I try to moderate my fook intake and cut a slice of pizza in half, but eat the "bigger" half? :-D

                    :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
                    We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

                    J 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • R Rob Manderson

                      (2 + 2) + 2/2 = 5 Using only 2's :)

                      Rob Manderson I'm working on a version for Visual Lisp++ My blog http://blogs.wdevs.com/ultramaroon/[^] My blog mirror http://robmanderson.blogspot.com[^]

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      Josh Smith
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #16

                      Rob Manderson wrote:

                      Using only 2's

                      Bravo! :rose:

                      :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
                      We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

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                      • R Raj Lal

                        In a "Real" world, there are a lot of people, who takes 2 with 2 and make it a 5 Well the silly question is, Can a "mathematician in you" also do this ? TAKE two 2's and any number of mathematical operations AND make it EQUAL TO 5 Another question to ponder , Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, facing it. Raise your left hand. Raise your right hand. Look at your reflection. When you raise your left hand your reflection raises what appears to be his right hand. But when you tilt your head up, your reflection does too, and does not appear to tilt his/her head down. Why is it that the mirror appears to reverse left and right, but not up and down? * there is no genius in google-dept Solution here[^]

                        Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


                        JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
                        Web based project tracking

                        J Offline
                        J Offline
                        Josh Smith
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #17

                        Quartz... wrote:

                        Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, facing it. Raise your left hand. Raise your right hand.

                        This sounds like the first chapter to "The Introverts Guide to the Hokey Pokey[^]." :-D

                        :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
                        We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

                        R 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • R Raj Lal

                          In a "Real" world, there are a lot of people, who takes 2 with 2 and make it a 5 Well the silly question is, Can a "mathematician in you" also do this ? TAKE two 2's and any number of mathematical operations AND make it EQUAL TO 5 Another question to ponder , Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, facing it. Raise your left hand. Raise your right hand. Look at your reflection. When you raise your left hand your reflection raises what appears to be his right hand. But when you tilt your head up, your reflection does too, and does not appear to tilt his/her head down. Why is it that the mirror appears to reverse left and right, but not up and down? * there is no genius in google-dept Solution here[^]

                          Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


                          JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
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                          P Offline
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                          PIEBALDconsult
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #18

                          I really wish that only well-worded puzzles were posted. If this is from a book, please post the full, complete, exact text of the puzzle. Plus attribution would help.

                          R J 3 Replies Last reply
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                          • J Josh Smith

                            Joe Q wrote:

                            Use extreamly large values of 2!

                            Is that like when I try to moderate my fook intake and cut a slice of pizza in half, but eat the "bigger" half? :-D

                            :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
                            We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

                            J Offline
                            J Offline
                            Joe Q
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #19

                            Josh Smith wrote:

                            Is that like when I try to moderate my fook intake and cut a slice of pizza in half, but eat the "bigger" half?

                            No, that's helping whomever is going to eat the other half moderate their food intake...you're just being helpful! :laugh:

                            J 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • J Joe Q

                              Josh Smith wrote:

                              Is that like when I try to moderate my fook intake and cut a slice of pizza in half, but eat the "bigger" half?

                              No, that's helping whomever is going to eat the other half moderate their food intake...you're just being helpful! :laugh:

                              J Offline
                              J Offline
                              Josh Smith
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #20

                              Joe Q wrote:

                              you're just being helpful!

                              Please explain that to my girlfriend! :laugh:

                              :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
                              We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

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                              • P PIEBALDconsult

                                I really wish that only well-worded puzzles were posted. If this is from a book, please post the full, complete, exact text of the puzzle. Plus attribution would help.

                                R Offline
                                R Offline
                                Raj Lal
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #21

                                Two questions 1. The context is the first question or the second question ? 2. You mean the puzzle is not clear ? Can you help make it clear because thes are not from any book or text, i read that long back and thought to share

                                Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


                                JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
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                                • R Raj Lal

                                  In a "Real" world, there are a lot of people, who takes 2 with 2 and make it a 5 Well the silly question is, Can a "mathematician in you" also do this ? TAKE two 2's and any number of mathematical operations AND make it EQUAL TO 5 Another question to ponder , Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, facing it. Raise your left hand. Raise your right hand. Look at your reflection. When you raise your left hand your reflection raises what appears to be his right hand. But when you tilt your head up, your reflection does too, and does not appear to tilt his/her head down. Why is it that the mirror appears to reverse left and right, but not up and down? * there is no genius in google-dept Solution here[^]

                                  Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


                                  JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
                                  Web based project tracking

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                                  C Offline
                                  CastorTiu
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #22

                                  When I sell something 2 + 2 = 5 When I buy something 2 + 2 = 3 more clear than that?

                                  -- If you think the chess rules are not fair, first beat Anand, Kasparov and Karpov then you can change them. Moral is, don't question the work of others if you don't know the reason why they did it.

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                                  • R Raj Lal

                                    In a "Real" world, there are a lot of people, who takes 2 with 2 and make it a 5 Well the silly question is, Can a "mathematician in you" also do this ? TAKE two 2's and any number of mathematical operations AND make it EQUAL TO 5 Another question to ponder , Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, facing it. Raise your left hand. Raise your right hand. Look at your reflection. When you raise your left hand your reflection raises what appears to be his right hand. But when you tilt your head up, your reflection does too, and does not appear to tilt his/her head down. Why is it that the mirror appears to reverse left and right, but not up and down? * there is no genius in google-dept Solution here[^]

                                    Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


                                    JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
                                    Web based project tracking

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                                    Raj Lal
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #23

                                    Where o where ? Nish, i hope you haven't given up on silly puzzles :) -- modified at 19:06 Friday 26th January, 2007

                                    Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


                                    JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
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                                    • P PIEBALDconsult

                                      I really wish that only well-worded puzzles were posted. If this is from a book, please post the full, complete, exact text of the puzzle. Plus attribution would help.

                                      J Offline
                                      J Offline
                                      Josh Smith
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #24

                                      PIEBALDconsult wrote:

                                      If this is from a book, please post the full, complete, exact text of the puzzle. Plus attribution would help.

                                      Perhaps the International Puzzle and Gaming Committee should ratify the puzzle, too? :rolleyes:

                                      :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
                                      We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

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                                      • J Josh Smith

                                        Quartz... wrote:

                                        Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, facing it. Raise your left hand. Raise your right hand.

                                        This sounds like the first chapter to "The Introverts Guide to the Hokey Pokey[^]." :-D

                                        :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
                                        We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

                                        R Offline
                                        R Offline
                                        Raj Lal
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #25

                                        Josh Smith wrote:

                                        This sounds like the first chapter to "The Introverts Guide to the Hokey Pokey[^]."

                                        Does it ! i have never read that, :laugh::laugh::laugh:

                                        Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


                                        JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
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                                        • R Raj Lal

                                          Two questions 1. The context is the first question or the second question ? 2. You mean the puzzle is not clear ? Can you help make it clear because thes are not from any book or text, i read that long back and thought to share

                                          Omit Needless Words - Strunk, William, Jr.


                                          JumpyForum:CP Message board | Universal DBA | Ajax Rating | ExplorerTree | | Globalization in 20 minutes
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                                          PIEBALDconsult
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #26

                                          Quartz... wrote:

                                          1. The context is the first question or the second question ?

                                          Oh, yeah, sorry, the second first... the puzzle. I don't find the first second very interesting.

                                          Quartz... wrote:

                                          2. You mean the puzzle is not clear ? Can you help make it clear because thes are not from any book or text, i read that long back and thought to share

                                          Ah, so you may have left out bits you thought non-essential? Not to get down on you in particular, but any who post puzzles on the Web in general. Plus, many times a puzzle is posted because the poster didn't find the answer, and if that's because he didn't understand the puzzle, then quite likely the resultant post will be garbled and unsolvable. As has been seen on here before. At any rate, of the solutions I've seen posted here so far only ceil(sqrt(22)) seems to qualify as a "proper" answer. The answers 5+5+1 and 2+2+2/2 don't qualify, because they break the implied limitation. If you then say "I never implied that", then the puzzle is no longer interesting, because many many solutions are then possible and a puzzle should have one or very few solutions. How about, "I am one with two plus two, that makes five"? Or, "two plus two and a banana makes five"? When I read a puzzle like that (poorly-worded) on the Web I can only assume that the poster left out such details in the interest of brevity, or not realizing the scope of the error, or because he's smoked too much weed. -- modified at 19:51 Friday 26th January, 2007

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