I came across a puzzle (posed by my friends) that looked like this:
Which Number Replaces the Question Mark?
6 11 | 9 \|/ 2 -- ⬤ -- 4 /|\ 16 | 14 ?
- A. 1
- B. 2
- C. 3
- D. 5
Does anyone see any pattern here?
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4 Answers
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3
I would guess that the question mark should be:
$1$
The pattern I see:
The picture is a tilted square, standing on one of its corners.
Along each edge of the square, the sum of the three numbers is $19$.
$2+11+6=19$, and $6+9+4=19$, and $4+14+?=19$, and $?+16+2=19$
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5$\begingroup$ Yup. Actually the puzzle is very nice example how visuals can be used as red-herrings in this type of things. It is so hard to ignore the lines... $\endgroup$– BmyGuestCommented Feb 8, 2015 at 17:21
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3$\begingroup$ @BmyGuest And that exactly what, in my opinion, makes this a bad puzzle. $\endgroup$– xnorCommented Feb 10, 2015 at 0:06
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$\begingroup$ You are great, Gamow. The line leading to center is blinding me .... $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 18, 2015 at 0:59
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2
I'd say:
1
Reasoning:
the difference between the opposing pairs are rising primes. 2-4 (2) 11-14 (3) 1-6 (5) 16-9 (7)
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$\begingroup$ if I am not wrong - in this way two possible answers are option A and C $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 9, 2015 at 12:32
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$\begingroup$ He said rising, 3 is not rising. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 9, 2015 at 14:01
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Diffenrence in right left top and bottom is two (9,11 and 14,16), and left right 2,4. Vertical it's five, so I guess, as mentioned above, it's one (1,6).
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2
Looking at opposites and ignoring the sign, starting at the '2' and rotating clockwise
2 - 4 = 2
11 - 14 = 3
6 - ? = should be 4 therefore the number required is 2
9 - 16 = 5
I know this is not the answer being looked for, but another pattern :)
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