More math...

Series VII: Operations : Puzzle 2, Algebra

 

Some word puzzle people disparage math, but really -- they shouldn't.

Some mathematical and logical expressions have made it into the common parlance, like 2b|¬(2b), 4F(r) + F(r), and Ni, 4N(i).

If you got all three of those, it's 1.4u. 

 Sometimes a little algebra is needed, like this:

The doctor said: “You are 12 if o=2 take 12 if s=6 Prince and call me in the morning.”

Richard is looking to trade his kingdom 20 if a=5 horse.

John Lennon wonders if you will still feed him when he’s 18 if t=3 – b if 7b+2=30.

40 if s=4 son wrote the poem “Idylls of the King.”

And a little more math is necessary for:

The car commercial encouraged us to “Get 36 if a=6 eel.”
The i² sees the glass half empty, while the |-1| sees it half full.

If you drink 28 if x=7 and s=2, designate ∑ (1…2) drive you home. 

You probably need to  know the original to parse "Get your kicks on  9 if t=13.5 – x if 5x = 30."

And you need math terminology for my favorite:  “Get your hands off my neck,³√. "

 

Solutions available Thursday,  April 28.

Solution to VII, 2

WE NICELY ALLOWED JUST ONE LITHE YOUNG HANDYMAN HIS CHANCE TO MISBEHAVE FOR AROUND THIRTY SECONDS WITH ONLY TWO ABSOLUTE CONDITIONS - THE DI|RTY CON MAN W|RO|NG|LY AB|S|CONDS WITH TE|N TO|Y|S AND A CHA|LI|CE I OWE HIS H|ON|O|R JUST|ICE BE|N|T|LY A|MIS.

Okay, what do we do with this?

The title is subtraction, so let's assume that dash is a minus sign.

WE NICELY ALLOWED JUST ONE LITHE YOUNG HANDYMAN HIS CHANCE TO MISBEHAVE FOR AROUND THIRTY SECONDS WITH ONLY TWO ABSOLUTE CONDITIONS 

minus

 THE DI|RTY CON MAN W|RO|NG|LY AB|S|CONDS WITH TE|N TO|Y|S AND A CHA|LI|CE I OWE HIS H|ON|O|R JUST|ICE BE|N|T|LY A|MIS.

Start crossing out.  Shall we begin with the three and four-letter elements?

WE NICELY ALLOWED JUST ONE LITHE YOUNG HANDYMAN HIS CHANCE TO MISBEHAVE FOR AROUND THIRTY SECONDS WITH ONLY TWO ABSOLUTE CONDITIONS 

minus

 THE DI|RTY CON MAN W|RO|NG|LY AB|S|CONDS WITH TE|N TO|Y|S AND A CHA|LI|CE I OWE HIS H|ON|O|R JUST|ICE BE|N|T|LY A|MIS.

Remove those, then take out the pairs.


WE NLY ALLD ONE LI YOUNG H Y N TO BEHAVE FOR AROUND THI SE ONLY TWO ABSOLUTE DITIONS 

minus

 DI |W|RO|NG|LY AB|S|TE|N TO|Y|A LI I H|ON|O|R  BE|N|T|LY A|.


 What's left?


WE N ALLD ONE YOU HY N TO HAVE FOR AUND THI SE  TWO SOLU TIONS 

minus

 |W||||S|N |Y A|I H||O|R  |N|T|A|.



WE LL D ONE YOU HAVE FO UND THE SOLU TION