The worlds first riddle!

As the equation is written, Adrian's answer 105 is correct.
However; if you change fonts to where there is 120 degree angles on the lines making up the capital letter Y; then Tryagain's answer would be correct. Just as the W moved 1/2 turn to become a M, the Y would become a Y every 1/3 turn. How about that... Everyone is right! (considering of course, that the man died in 1955) :wink:

I would still like to see the formula, because I know there was an easier path to the anwser, than the one I took.

Google, not for the first time is correct. The great man did indeed die in 1955.
The 35 referred to in the quote was of cause the answer.

Let us now cut to the chase, we are dealing with a set of cogs.
When the largest cog turns one revolution, the other cogs turn a
distance of 143 teeth also. The ?'R' cog will be upright every 143 teeth, likewise for the ?'A' cog every 35 teeth. The ?'M' cog displays a letter ?'M' or ?'W' every 11 teeth. The ?'Y' cog looks the same every 13 teeth for the same reason.
But ?'every 11' and ?'every 13' occurs as a consequence of turning the ?'R' cog 143 teeth (since 11 times 13 equals 143). Therefore, we need only concern ourselves with the ?'R' and ?'A' cogs. Since 35 and 143 are co-prime (that is they have no common factors: 35 = 7x5, 143 = 11x13) then we require 35 turns of the ?'R' cog before the ?'A' cog is also in the right place.

Quote:
"As the equation is written, Adrian's answer 105 is correct.
However; if you change fonts to where there is 120 degree angles on the lines making up the capital letter Y; then Tryagain's answer would be correct. Just as the W moved 1/2 turn to become a M, the Y would become a Y every 1/3 turn. How about that Everyone is right! (considering of course, that the man died in 1955)"

I would be happy to call that one a draw.
Now for extra Time…

I went to an auction house today, intending to bid for a Rembrandt. However, in the end I bought a ancient leather bound book, the covers of which were held securely fast by a metal clasp for which there was no key. The leather cover was very badly worn and the title of the book could not be read.

Upon returning home, I took the book into the library and I was amazed to see that on page 1 there was a list of 51 Authors and on the other side there was clear evidence that they had been read over 23,000 times.

Disclaimer: All facts and figures are believed to be correct at the time of publication. Professional financial advice should be sought before entering into any financial transaction.

I have supplied all the information necessary for you to able to know the answer to the following question.

What was I reading

Perhaps the printout listing the auctioned items from the auction company?

I don't see how you could read page one if the book was closed and unopenable and no other piece of writing has been mentioned.

Did you mean 'front cover' or something else?

My guess would be that the leather bound book is a red herring. What you might be reading - seeing as how you were in the library - is the library's membersip roll.

Fifty-one is too few to be the authors of the books of the library unless it is an extremely small library but it is a substantial amount if attending the library. And the 23,000 would be the total membership, which seems a reasonable figure.

Only a guess however.

Congratulations, forget the book. I still can not open it.
Clue number 2 "Page 1"

Where, I hear you ask is clue 1? well, it was more the answer than a clue.
and you have chosen to ignore it. :wink:

I thought they usually left out page 1 in books?
Page 1 fell out?

Books

I call a TIME OUT on this one, to wish you all a very Happy New Year.

I also wish to apologise for the use if the word ?'ignored' my Englisch she is not so good. I should have said, "overlooked"

In an effort to make amends, I offer you the following.

"How many letters are there in the one-word answer to this question?"

There may be any number of answers, but only one is valid. To avoid confusion (one) is not the answer.

Ps. I need a little help here. I have been asked to decorate four columns at the White House. They are 20ft high and 3ft round. They want five complete spirals around each Column. How long should each length of tape be? Many thanks.

Pps. I have received a large amount of correspondence concerning the disposal of my P.H.D. I can confirm the Pifco Hair Dryer is indeed in the bin.

If by 3ft around you mean diameter, 52 and half foot lengths should be just fine.

Hi Bill,

I sure do. Now, here we go again, thanks to you I have cut the tape too long. They are not happy with the ?'saggy' look. I do not have much tape left. Things are looking serious, where's Adrian? BTW they had a very good fireworks display in Australia.

You work for some pretty picky people… try this length;
51.192391917599490979518173209561 ft.

Thanks Bill, but same result. The top man suggested I check with ?'Pythagoras' Theorem' who ever he is. I would say your first answer with a bit of re-working would do it. :wink:

My first answer was a rough use of the same formula as my second. If your answer falls in between; than my second is correct. Does your answer fall in between my 2 answers?

Though I did not know who to credit for the formula, I did use "Pythagoras's theorem" to achieve my answer. I suspect I used more decimal places than your answer key, and thus; produced an even more accurate answer.
20ft. squared + (3ft. X Pi X 5) squared = the "length you are looking for" squared. Correct?

25 ft per column, right?

(3, 4, 5 triangles)

Regarding the leather bound book, the only thing I can think of is that it refers to page one of this thread. 51 in latin numerals is 'LI' and the words 'lie', 'lies', and 'liar' figure significantly on page one. But why authors?

I have no idea at all of what '23,000 readers' might signify.

And your use of 'ignore'; I remember almost causing myself difficulties with the French customs over that very same word. I speak reasonable French but when he asked me, politely enough, if I had ignored the French customs regulations I chose to give it the English meaning of 'disregard' rather than the French meaning of 'unaware of'.

All right, you got me again. You could try: 9.4247779607693797153879301498385 ft. lenths, though I prefer the candy stripe approach. :wink:

Mungo, warmest congratulations, a double first.

Since 3 squared plus 4 squared equals 5 squared. As there five complete spirals around the column, the answer is 5x5=25.

What was I reading?
"on page 1 there was a list of 51 Authors and on the other side there was clear evidence that they had been read over 23,000 times."

Well, we know it was not the book.

Quote "it refers to page one of this thread." Correct.

?'…all the information necessary for you to able to know ?'(Able 2 know) the answer was indeed ?'missed'

Under the heading, ?'Author' there are/were (note disclaimer) 51 names. Under ?'views' the numbers add up to show they had been read over 23,000 times.

Nice story, I think Bart Simpson had the same problem with those ?'cheese eating surrender monkeys'

Good try Bill, right numbers, wrong way. Nevertheless, I would rather be wrong in Palm Beach than right in Timbuktu. (Apologies to any viewer, no offence intended, used for illustration purposes only) not.

So that only leaves, "How many letters are there in the one-word answer to this question?"

There may be any number of answers, but only one is valid. To avoid confusion (one) is not the answer. (as this is almost impossible!) I offer a simple alternative.

What sort of perfectly healthy human being would end the day with their right leg having travelled 20 metres further than their left?

No fair tryagain; when I asked; "If by 3ft round you mean diameter" you answered "I sure do. Your answer is 3ft circumference, not diameter. Given your faulty information; I gave you the correct answer accurate to 30 decimal places.