-1.2 C
Ottawa
Friday, January 31, 2025

Math Puzzle: Find the Secret System

Date:

The numbers in this triangle are arranged according to a certain system. What would the next row be?

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
The following numbers are shown in a pyramid arrangement. Row 1: 1; Row 2: 1, 2; Row 3: 1, 3, 2; Row 4: 4, 1, 3, 2; Row 5: 5, 4, 1, 3, 2; Row 6: 5, 4, 1, 6, 3, 2; Row 7: 5, 4, 1, 7, 6, 3, 2.

In each row n of the triangle, the integers from 1 to n are in alphabetical order. In the next row the number 8 would be added, and because “eight” comes before “five” in alphabetical order, it must be at the beginning of the row, giving us this sequence:

8 5 4 1 7 6 3 2

(Note that Scientific American’s editors had to adjust the order on this one from the original German.)

We’d love to hear from you! E-mail us at games@sciam.com to share your experience.

This puzzle originally appeared in Spektrum der Wissenschaft and was reproduced with permission.

know more

Popular

More like this
Related

Exxon Mobil’s 2024 production was at highest level in over 10 years

Please enable JS and disable any ad blockerknow more

Samsung profit misses estimates, falls sharply from previous quarter as costs rise

Photo illustration showing the Samsung Group company logo displayed...

Intel issues weak forecast, but beats on fourth-quarter results

Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Intel's co-CEO and then executive vice...