a x b=270. c x d=440 What does f equal?

Okay, I don’t post questions off the radio, but this one intrigued me. I assume it has to do with math, but it may not. Any math geniuses want to give it a shot?

This must be some bizarre logic problem that has little to do with math. Following the pattern, e would be the multiplier and f would be the multiplicand, not the product. In the examples, the multiplicands were b and d. I don’t see how f can be mathematically discovered.

Well, there is a vague pattern: 270 = 30 x 9 (or 3 x 90) and 440 = 40 x 11 (or 4 x 110). So, on the same pattern, e x f = 50 x 13 = 5 x 130 = 650.

So f could be either 50, 13, 5 or 130. Or quite a few other things.

OK, I’m stumped. Sounds like a “clever” trick question.

42

well, if you need to figure it out from this ridiculously limited info., then I would say that the answer is

you = f’d

Assuming a,b,c,d,e and f are positive integers, a and b can be the following: (reverse order also)
2,135
3,90
5,54
6,45
9,30
10,27
15,18
c & d can be the following: (again, reverse order also)
2,220
4,110
5,88
8,55
10,44
11,40
20,22

I can’t find an easy progression using these pairs for a,b,c,d
In additon the “patterns” r_k found, there is 6,45,8,55 which would make e,f be 10,65

Brian

Just a random observation. A, B, C, D, and F–maybe it’s in some way related to grades?

Also, trick questions like this also often depend on the particular wording of the problem. Do you remember exactly how the problem was stated, Mahaloth?

Yeah, could you write it out as it was spoken? Also, are you sure about the letters used and the numbers?

F=ma

Insufficient information.

My first thought was that x might mean something besides “times” but if it was a radio bit then I assume that “x” was was spoken as “times”. I second ZenBeam’s request. Give us the exact wording.

Here is what was said, word for word.

"A times B equals 270. C times D equals 440. What does F equal and why?"

I doubt it has to do with math.

Darn. If the puzzle had been “A times C equals 270. D times E equals 450. What does F equal and why?” I could give you an answer.

Mine is 25. Why? Here’s my explanation, which I know is extremely contrived:

A class consists of 100 students. On the last test, there were more B’s than A’s, more C’s than B’s, more D’s than C’s, and more F’s than D’s. If A is the number of A’s, B is the number of B’s, and so on, and A × B = 270, and C × D = 440, what does F equal?

There’s something appealingly symmetric about (A, B, C, D, F) = (15, 18, 20, 22, 25). That’s my main reason.

Admittedly, this is really reaching for clues, but…

How were the numbers said? …two-twenty…four-forty…, …two-seven-oh…four-four-oh…, …two hundred twenty…four hundred forty…, …two-seven-zero…four-four-zero…, etc. ?

Another thought: Could it have anything to do with musical tones? I know that the ‘standard’ A is 440 Hz. Could the frequencies of C and D be combined to make an A? I don’t know much about the frequencies associated with chords.

That doesn’t work if you multiply. When two notes are struck, the result is a sum & a difference tone (ignoring harmonics).

The frequencies of musical notes

A+B = 233.5 in the 4th octave.

This was posted on the Grey Labrynth:

“As far as i can see, F = 610/E
Reasoning:
AB+170=CD
CD+170=EF (via pattern)
CD+170=610
EF=610
F=610/E”

What do you guys think?

I still reckon it’s some kind of trick question, perhaps relying on initial letters of something well known.

Unless you know what E is, you gotsa whole lotta nuthin’, basically.

That’s not much of a pattern. They extrapolated from a single datum. Not that I have anything better.