Continue this series - Page 4

Wacky · 2003-07-13, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by epatka

But you agree it has something to do with primes.

Sorry, I neither agreed, nor disagreed with your suggestion.

But, I will remind you of the hint

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reboot It

Some clues: The solution does not involve a polynomial at all. The series cannot be proved, or even formulated, inductively. Knowing what is not involved should help all you puzzlers still out there.

epatka · 2003-07-13, 17:08

Sorry, but it means there is no logic in it?
Then I am wondering how could anyone figure it out.

I give up, I guess :)

ET_ · 2003-07-13, 20:34

It seems related to some infinite improbability engine.

42 is the long searched answer to Life, the Universe and all this...

:D

Luigi

Wacky · 2003-07-13, 20:54

There is logic to it.
Perhaps I should elaborate of RebootIt's clue "The series cannot be proved, or even formulated, inductively."

I can think of two ways to describe the series "4, 8, 12, 16, ..."
The first is inductive. "4 is the first member of the series. Each other member of the series is 4 greater than the previous member"

The second description is by describing a property. "A number is a member of the series if, and only if, it is evenly divisible by 4"

Another series, "2, 3, 5, 7, 11, ...", (the primes), cannot be described in the first form. However, it can be described by a rule "An integer is a member of the series if, and only if, it cannot be evenly divided by any smaller integer which is greater than 1"

Similarly, this series can be described by a rule which decides whether, or not, each integer is included. What is the rule?

Exluminis · 2003-07-13, 22:48

So it has an abstraction layer about it?

Kevin · 2003-07-14, 04:00

I looked up the series and didn't like the answer (it's right, I just don't think it's a good question). Here's my optional hint. If it's deemed not too giving away perhaps it can be posted directly in the thread.

Jwb52z · 2003-07-14, 04:13

Does this have anything to do with the propogation of cell division of an embryo?

Kevin · 2003-07-14, 04:25

no

masser · 2003-07-16, 19:11

Does this series terminate?

Wacky · 2003-07-16, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by masser

Does this series terminate?

No.

Jwb52z · 2003-07-16, 21:50

How can a series terminate when numbers are infinite?

2003-07-13, 17:08	#35
epatka Jun 2003 100000₂ Posts	Re: Continue this series Sorry, but it means there is no logic in it? Then I am wondering how could anyone figure it out. I give up, I guess :)

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2003-07-13, 20:34	#36
ET_ Banned "Luigi" Aug 2002 Team Italia 1001011001111₂ Posts	It seems related to some infinite improbability engine. 42 is the long searched answer to Life, the Universe and all this... :D Luigi

2003-07-13, 20:54	#37
Wacky Jun 2003 The Texas Hill Country 3²·11² Posts	There is logic to it. Perhaps I should elaborate of RebootIt's clue "The series cannot be proved, or even formulated, inductively." I can think of two ways to describe the series "4, 8, 12, 16, ..." The first is inductive. "4 is the first member of the series. Each other member of the series is 4 greater than the previous member" The second description is by describing a property. "A number is a member of the series if, and only if, it is evenly divisible by 4" Another series, "2, 3, 5, 7, 11, ...", (the primes), cannot be described in the first form. However, it can be described by a rule "An integer is a member of the series if, and only if, it cannot be evenly divided by any smaller integer which is greater than 1" Similarly, this series can be described by a rule which decides whether, or not, each integer is included. What is the rule?

2003-07-13, 22:48	#38
Exluminis Mar 2003 1001₂ Posts	So it has an abstraction layer about it?

2003-07-14, 04:00	#39
Kevin Aug 2002 Ann Arbor, MI 433₁₀ Posts	I looked up the series and didn't like the answer (it's right, I just don't think it's a good question). Here's my optional hint. If it's deemed not too giving away perhaps it can be posted directly in the thread.

2003-07-14, 04:13	#40
Jwb52z Sep 2002 1100011110₂ Posts	Does this have anything to do with the propogation of cell division of an embryo?

2003-07-14, 04:25	#41
Kevin Aug 2002 Ann Arbor, MI 661₈ Posts	no

2003-07-16, 19:11	#42
masser Jul 2003 wear a mask 2·829 Posts	Does this series terminate?

2003-07-16, 21:50	#44
Jwb52z Sep 2002 2·3·7·19 Posts	How can a series terminate when numbers are infinite?