So who knew the answer the instant they saw the picture?

"JustWaitingForAMate" (justwaitingforamate) 06/07/2015 at 19:59 • Filed to: None

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The anger and frustration from the mathematicians who think it’s a maths problem in the io9 comments is delicious.

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bob and john > JustWaitingForAMate 06/07/2015 at 20:09

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i’m used to this:

So yea, it took me a minute to figure it out

Under_Score > JustWaitingForAMate 06/07/2015 at 20:09

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When I first saw this on here, I thought it could be 10. This would be by multiplying the first two numbers, then adding two to get the third number. 1*3=3. 3+2=5. 2*4=8. 8+2=10.

But then, I checked the comments, and saw the real answer. I didn’t get it at first, but then, another comment said something, and then I got why it’s that.

CB > JustWaitingForAMate 06/07/2015 at 20:13

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It took me a few minutes, but I got it.

jariten1781 > JustWaitingForAMate 06/07/2015 at 20:17

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I mean, I got it immediately when it showed up here a few days ago cause this place is car-centric...but it’s total BS for an io9 question. It’d be fair if the gate lines were drawn in (eliminating other gear arrangments and giving a visual clue it wasn’t a regular number sequence) but as it is now it’s no good.

ttyymmnn > JustWaitingForAMate 06/07/2015 at 20:27

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I drive a VW. I don’t get it.

tromoly > JustWaitingForAMate 06/07/2015 at 20:33

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It’s R. That’s how the 1993 Toyota Tercel is, how the 1995 Ford Ranger, and 2000 Ford Focus have their gears arranged.

JustWaitingForAMate > jariten1781 06/07/2015 at 20:39

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It’s a riddle though, not a math question. People jumped straight to a math solution since they saw numbers were involved.

jariten1781 > JustWaitingForAMate 06/07/2015 at 20:44

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Yeah. Riddles can be unfair as well.

“What’s in my pocket” from the riddle game in the Hobbit comes to mind.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > jariten1781 06/07/2015 at 21:42

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That wasn’t an intentional riddle, that was idle speculation.

jariten1781 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 06/07/2015 at 22:11

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Haha, yes that’s true. Still an unfair in the context of a word game if the competition doesn’t realize you’re speculating and you double down on it.

Anyhow, another good way this riddle could have been made fair (if drawing the gate lines was ruled out) would be to phrase the question in a normal word puzzley way with a couple hints dropped in. Something like:

“Don’t automatically think 6, for that’s not it. If you can’t get your mind in gear perhaps you should consult a manual”.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > jariten1781 06/08/2015 at 08:16

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Yes, I agree on all counts.

Flat Six > JustWaitingForAMate 06/08/2015 at 09:44

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Very funny, but my car DOES have a 6 there (and an R off to the left)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > JustWaitingForAMate 06/08/2015 at 14:19

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I saw it elsewhere, but didn’t get it... [turns in Jalop card]