A Math (Logic) Problem Gone Viral

Serious Business 39 replies 2,469 views
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Apr 16, 2015 12:55pm
[h=2]A Math problem that gone viral[/h][INDENT]A question on a quiz for teenage mathletes proved so tricky for Singapore newscaster Kenneth Kong that he posted it to Facebook to find a definitive answer. Now the problem has driven the entire country mad, and it's spreading to the rest of the world.

Here is the question:


Albert and Bernard just met Cheryl. “When’s your birthday?” Albert asked Cheryl.

Cheryl thought a second and said, “I’m not going to tell you, but I’ll give you some clues.” She wrote down a list of 10 dates:

May 15, May 16, May 19

June 17, June 18

July 14, July 16

August 14, August 15, August 17

“My birthday is one of these,” she said.

Then Cheryl whispered in Albert’s ear the month — and only the month — of her birthday. To Bernard, she whispered the day, and only the day.

“Can you figure it out now?” she asked Albert.

Albert: I don’t know when your birthday is, but I know Bernard doesn't know, either.

Bernard: I didn't know originally, but now I do.

Albert: Well, now I know, too!

When is Cheryl’s birthday?
[/INDENT]
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Apr 16, 2015 12:56pm
[SP]July16[/SP]
Heretic's avatar
Heretic
Posts: 18,820
Apr 16, 2015 1:19pm
Hmm, so that's where Ohiobucks came up with question #1 for the upcoming sheep season week that I'll be replying to with some variation of "GFY" because shit like this makes my eyes bleed.
iclfan2's avatar
iclfan2
Posts: 6,360
Apr 16, 2015 1:23pm
July 16th? Your spoiler click thing doesn't work
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Apr 16, 2015 1:29pm
iclfan2;1722060 wrote:July 16th? Your spoiler click thing doesn't work
Not sure why. How'd you come up with your answer?
Laley23's avatar
Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Apr 16, 2015 1:45pm
You can eliminate any month with a single date (no same numbers in other months).

Then, you eliminate the similar numbers in the remaining months.

Finally, you know it cannot be the month with multiple dates left. Has to be the month with only 1 date left.

I won't give the answer, but that's how it has to be solved. I don't think there is another possibility...
iclfan2's avatar
iclfan2
Posts: 6,360
Apr 16, 2015 1:49pm
I did it like laley. Couldn't be either of top 2 rows bc they have unique dates. Which leaves the bottom 2. They both share 14, so then row 3 only had one other option while 4 had 2 other options.


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SportsAndLady's avatar
SportsAndLady
Posts: 35,632
Apr 16, 2015 1:50pm
I'll wait for footwedge to chime in before I delve into this.
iclfan2's avatar
iclfan2
Posts: 6,360
Apr 16, 2015 1:51pm
The date shows in tapatalk now instead of a spoiler message, unless it's cuz I clicked on it online. Ha too complicated with formatting.


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sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
Apr 16, 2015 2:00pm
I know the answer.
J
jmog
Posts: 6,567
Apr 16, 2015 2:35pm
I have no idea how to do a spoiler hide, so if you don't want to know how to get to July 16th, stop reading...

SPOILER ALERT!!!














The key phrase in the first statement by Albert is that he knows that Bernard doesn't know...

If Bernard had been told 19th or 18th he would know immediately what the birthday is (5/19 or 6/18). Albert only "knows" this because he knows that the month isn't May or June.

So, from the first statement you can eliminate the 5 possible answers in May and June.

When Bernard hears this, he then knows the answer, it narrowed down the months to July and August. Obviously he wouldn't yet know if he had been told the 14th as both July and August have the 14th. So his statement leaves only 3 dats, 7/16, 8/15, and 8/17.

Albert then saying he knows finalizes the solution. If it was August Albert still couldn't 'know' as there would be two dates left in August. So it has to be July 16.
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Apr 16, 2015 2:38pm
jmog;1722081 wrote:(which just so happens to be my oldest son's birthday).
WTF does that have to do with anything?
1_beast's avatar
1_beast
Posts: 5,642
Apr 16, 2015 5:49pm
Not july 16. Im going with may 19
G
gut
Posts: 15,058
Apr 16, 2015 6:35pm
This was hard for people?

F
friendfromlowry
Posts: 6,239
Apr 16, 2015 10:25pm
Albert and Bernard just met Cheryl. “When’s your birthday?” Albert asked Cheryl.

Cheryl thought a second and said, “I’m not going to tell you, but I’ll give you some clues.” She wrote down a list of 10 dates:

Would have walked away at this point if I were Albert or Bernard
ohiobucks1's avatar
ohiobucks1
Posts: 4,915
Apr 16, 2015 10:58pm
Goddamnit, you fools ruined my Sheep joke/question lol
gerb131's avatar
gerb131
Posts: 9,932
Apr 16, 2015 11:16pm
2. The answer is 2.
Glory Days's avatar
Glory Days
Posts: 7,809
Apr 17, 2015 12:54am
How hot is Cheryl?
W
WebFire
Posts: 14,779
Apr 17, 2015 9:13am
jmog;1722081 wrote: If Bernard had been told 19th or 18th he would know immediately what the birthday is (5/19 or 6/18). Albert only "knows" this because he knows that the month isn't May or June.
So Benard knows it's 5/19 or 6/18, but Albert knows it's not May or June.

What the fuck did I just read?
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
Apr 17, 2015 10:21am
gut;1722135 wrote:This was hard for people?

I think that's a bit unfair. I had to at least write the logic down on paper to figure it out and I'm probably the person with the highest IQ here(besides Con_Alma of course).
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar
ZWICK 4 PREZ
Posts: 7,733
Apr 17, 2015 10:36am
jmog;1722081 wrote:I have no idea how to do a spoiler hide, so if you don't want to know how to get to July 16th, stop reading...

SPOILER ALERT!!!














The key phrase in the first statement by Albert is that he knows that Bernard doesn't know...

If Bernard had been told 19th or 18th he would know immediately what the birthday is (5/19 or 6/18). Albert only "knows" this because he knows that the month isn't May or June.

So, from the first statement you can eliminate the 5 possible answers in May and June.

When Bernard hears this, he then knows the answer, it narrowed down the months to July and August. Obviously he wouldn't yet know if he had been told the 14th as both July and August have the 14th. So his statement leaves only 3 dats, 7/16, 8/15, and 8/17.

Albert then saying he knows finalizes the solution. If it was August Albert still couldn't 'know' as there would be two dates left in August. So it has to be July 16.
1_beast;1722125 wrote:Not july 16. Im going with may 19

jmog literally just explained it for you lol
Laley23's avatar
Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Apr 17, 2015 10:55am
sleeper;1722259 wrote:I think that's a bit unfair. I had to at least write the logic down on paper to figure it out and I'm probably the person with the highest IQ here(besides Con_Alma of course).
Took me a good amount of time as well.
W
WebFire
Posts: 14,779
Apr 17, 2015 10:57am
Laley23;1722281 wrote:Took me a good amount of time as well.
Not to mention that there isn't anybody that would be able to figure this out by only having the conversation above with someone.
Laley23's avatar
Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Apr 17, 2015 11:01am
WebFire;1722283 wrote:Not to mention that there isn't anybody that would be able to figure this out by only having the conversation above with someone.
??? I think we are to assume that the 2 hold a conversation about what they are told.
W
WebFire
Posts: 14,779
Apr 17, 2015 11:07am
Laley23;1722285 wrote:??? I think we are to assume that the 2 hold a conversation about what they are told.
Point is, if this conversation was held in real life as it is above, no one would know the answer.