Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Friday Puzzler -- What Base?
Alex Y
Arithmetic in bases other than base ten can look funny. For instance, in base 9, 8X20+(45-85)=130,
while in base 11, 8X20+(45-85)=110.
Incredibly, when you choose the proper base, that equation evaluates to 5!
What is that base?
Hint re: Friday Puzzler -- What Base?
Alex Y
There is a punctuation error in my original post.
Re: Hint re: Friday Puzzler -- What Base?
Larry Barrett
Have you now edited the original?
If the question is 'find the base so that the equation evaluates to 5!' and I can interpret 5! as a factorial (rather than as punctuation) then since 5! = 120, the base in question is 10.
If you have not edited the original, and mean some other error in punctuation, I am still stumped. Doing arithmetic in a base other than 10 scrambles my brain.
Correct
Alex Y
The discussion of bases was pure obfuscation. My punctuation "error" was failing to put a period at the end of the sentence that ended with a factorial. Not fair to make the exclamation point do double duty as a mathematical operator and a punctuation mark. :-)