-4
$\begingroup$

gpuzzles.com is one of my favorite sites along with StackExchange, but can someone please elaborate on the answer?

Problem:
Can you solve the number series problem by replacing boxes with numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15?
Note: You can also repeat the number.
? + ? + ? = 30

Answer provided by the site is:
11.3135 + 9.3115 + 9.375

My question is Why can't be the answer be like 11 + 9 + 9 = 30

Am I missing something?

Source

$\endgroup$
2
  • 9
    $\begingroup$ Short answer... in real maths we have: 11+9+9=29. $\endgroup$
    – manshu
    Commented Jan 21, 2017 at 13:06
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Note that the OP specifically asks why a "normal" solution cannot work (which is answered here BTW). $\endgroup$
    – Ankoganit
    Commented Jan 21, 2017 at 14:41

1 Answer 1

2
$\begingroup$

So to rehash,

The sum of three odd numbers will always be odd, so you can't get to thirty using three of the numbers provided.

Though that doesn't explain

Why the given answer isn't something simple like 11.5 + 9.5 + 9 = 30.

It occurs to me now that

The question is likely asking you to use ALL the odd numbers between 1-15 to fill in the boxes

which is why the answer is so convoluted. In my opinion, the question is worded poorly if this is the case.

$\endgroup$

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.