Problem of the week
In this problem you start with five constant variables, haybales 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5. You are also given the information that if paired in all possible combinations of two, you will end with these numbers; 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91. So I started with a table like this
12345
1|X|80|82
83
84
2
X
X
85
86
87
3
X
X
X
88
90
4
X
X
X
X
91
5
X
X
X
X
X
However, after reading the question again I realized it said “Arranged in numerical order, without keeping track of which weight matched which pair of bales.” I had to switch to something like this
80
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
90
91
A = ?
B = ?
C = ?
D = ?
E = ?
Then, I split eighty by two for a set of forties, and subtracted one from the left and added it to the right. [40-1(39) | 40+1(41)] so I used those for A & B
A = 39
B = 41
C = ?
D = ?
E = ?
I then proceeded with “what plus 39 equals this?” and ended up with
A = 39
B = 41
C = 43
D = 44
E = 47
12345
1|X|80|82
83
84
2
X
X
85
86
87
3
X
X
X
88
90
4
X
X
X
X
91
5
X
X
X
X
X
However, after reading the question again I realized it said “Arranged in numerical order, without keeping track of which weight matched which pair of bales.” I had to switch to something like this
80
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
90
91
A = ?
B = ?
C = ?
D = ?
E = ?
Then, I split eighty by two for a set of forties, and subtracted one from the left and added it to the right. [40-1(39) | 40+1(41)] so I used those for A & B
A = 39
B = 41
C = ?
D = ?
E = ?
I then proceeded with “what plus 39 equals this?” and ended up with
A = 39
B = 41
C = 43
D = 44
E = 47