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#1 2012-11-26 21:42:08
- miansons
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Lockers Maths Puzzle
What is the answer to below puzzle? I am unable to solve this.
"A high school has a strange principal. On the first day, he has his students perform an odd opening day ceremony:
There are one thousand lockers and one thousand students in the school. The principal asks the first student to go to every locker and open it. Then he has the second student go to every second locker and close it. The third goes to every third locker and, if it is closed, he opens it, and if it is open, he closes it. The fourth student does this to every fourth locker, and so on. After the process is completed with the thousandth student, how many lockers are open?"
#2 2012-11-26 22:38:05
- bobbym
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Hi miansons;
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#3 2012-11-26 22:42:31
- bob bundy
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
hi bobbym,
How are you today?
This seems to be a general rule for any number of lockers. But why? hhhmmmm
Bob
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
#4 2012-11-26 22:43:33
- bob bundy
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Arrh! I've just worked out why.
Bob
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
#5 2012-11-26 22:44:41
- bobbym
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Hi Bob;
I am still chugging along.
But why?
Seek and ye shall find.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#6 2012-11-26 22:45:41
- bob bundy
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
I have.
Sorry I double posted.
Bob
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
#7 2012-11-26 22:49:24
- bobbym
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Hi;
The bulb is lit! Very good!
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8 2012-11-27 00:10:30
- anonimnystefy
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Hi guys
The reason is that only lockers whose numbers have and odd number of divisors will become open. Showing that only square numbers satisfy this condition is a piece of pie chart.
Hi Bob
Is this what you meant?
Last edited by anonimnystefy (2012-11-27 00:11:25)
The limit operator is just an excuse for doing something you know you can't.
“It's the subject that nobody knows anything about that we can all talk about!” ― Richard Feynman
“A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón
#9 2012-11-27 00:48:14
- phrontister
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Hi miansons,
Last edited by phrontister (2012-11-27 09:04:08)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#10 2012-11-27 00:48:59
- bobbym
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Showing that only square numbers satisfy this condition is a piece of pie chart.
Piece of pie chart? That does not sound delicious at all.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#11 2012-11-27 01:29:04
- anonimnystefy
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Who said it was?
I have to ask you something in the random chatter thread later...
The limit operator is just an excuse for doing something you know you can't.
“It's the subject that nobody knows anything about that we can all talk about!” ― Richard Feynman
“A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón
#12 2012-11-27 03:41:12
- bob bundy
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Easy as pie chart!
Look at the time between post 3 and post 4.
Impressive speed huh? 
Bob
If only the OP was as quick to respond, sob, sob. 
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
#13 2012-11-27 07:13:47
- anonimnystefy
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Impressive, indeed. But, why haven't you posted your idea?
The limit operator is just an excuse for doing something you know you can't.
“It's the subject that nobody knows anything about that we can all talk about!” ― Richard Feynman
“A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón
#14 2012-11-27 08:15:48
- bob bundy
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Thank you. It is a new policy of mine. If the OP remains silent then I keep my answer to myself.
I've been sitting on the 45 degree plane answer for 24 hours.
http://www.mathisfunforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=18465
Bob
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
#15 2012-11-27 08:22:05
- anonimnystefy
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
I can see why you would do that... But, do you really think that there will be an improvement in the response of OPs?
The limit operator is just an excuse for doing something you know you can't.
“It's the subject that nobody knows anything about that we can all talk about!” ― Richard Feynman
“A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón
#16 2012-11-27 08:48:34
- bobbym
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
I have to ask you something in the random chatter thread later...
It better not be my age.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#17 2012-11-27 08:53:05
- bob bundy
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Stefy wrote:
But, do you really think that there will be an improvement in the response of OPs?
No it probably won't. But it will help to stop me getting annoyed when I've spent time on a problem and typing it up and then [blank]
bobbym wrote:
It better not be my age.
But we know you'll never tell that. btw. I'm still working on Phrontister's puzzle.
Bob
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
#18 2012-11-27 08:57:59
- bobbym
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Phrontister is brilliant but standing upside for his entire 28 years has affected his judgement. He believes that he saw me in 1904 at the fair.
His puzzle is going to place me at about 350 years old.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#19 2012-11-27 09:24:30
- bob bundy
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Have you solved his puzzle then ?
I kinow from what I have done so far, that it will not make you more than 100 .
So he couldn't have seen you in 1904.
1913 I could believe.
Bob
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
#20 2012-11-27 09:34:21
- bobbym
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
Hi;
No, I have never solved that problem.
1913 is not correct. Phrontister is a good friend and a cousin but he is unable to see the contradiction between my age and my appearance at the fair.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#21 2012-11-27 09:45:00
- phrontister
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
bobbym wrote:
He believes that he saw me in 1904 at the fair.
No! No! No! Closure is closure!!
phrontister wrote:
I think that's it, Bobby!
I was probably so swept along with the whole "I've gotta know how old Bobby is and what he looks like" thing here on MIF that my imagination took hold. No other explanation makes sense...so, closure at last!bobbym wrote:
I believe you are probably imagining the whole thing. I mean some people want to believe so bad that they have seen me that they just think they did.
Btw, I improved my C1 formula in my post #9 by removing a duplication, making it more succinct. I'm glad I spotted this now before the OP did.
Hi, Bob. So someone is actually working on my puzzle! 
When you've solved it, I'd be very interested to see how you went about it.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#22 2012-12-14 22:56:15
- julianthemath
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Re: Lockers Maths Puzzle
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