Brainteaser

Graeme....define "wasn't too bad" for me.  This is way past Grade 7 level; but I could use a little grounding I suppose.

OK. You're grounded until further notice.

Got the first one Graeme. By the way, does Charles plan to stay here for Christmas or go to Balmoral or Windsor?

Well, we chat regularly but he hasn't mentioned his Christmas plans.

Got the first one, I have no idea what they're even talking about in the second.

@graeme-ogg You are a cold man Mr. Ogg.......

reckon you're confused now? Heres what Claude AI thinks

Okay, let's take a look at the puzzle. It appears you wrote the numbers 1-20 in order, but made some mistakes. To calculate how far off you were, I'll go through each number and compare it to the correct position.

For the number 3, it's in the correct position, so the error is 0. For the number 0, it's in position 32 instead of 4, so the error is 28. For the number 32, it's in position 2 instead of 5, so the error is 3. And so on, going through each number.

To get the total error, I'll add up the absolute values of the individual errors: |0 - 3| + |32 - 4| + |2 - 5| + |8 - 6| + |2 - 7| + |3 - 8| + |1 - 9| + |9 - 10| + |8 - 11| + |7 - 12| + |6 - 13| + |5 - 14| + |4 - 15| + |2 - 16| + |3 - 17| + |2 - 18| + |2 - 19| + |4 - 20| = 3 + 28 + 3 + 2 + 5 + 5 + 8 + 1 + 3 + 6 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 14 + 14 + 16 + 17 = 151

So the total error in your placement of the numbers 1-20 is 151.

I thought it was something to do with totalling the numerical placement errors - for example if there was a 20 where 12 ought to sit, the error would be 8, and so on. But what on earth does Claude mean by saying "number 0 is in position 32 instead of 4"? Or "32 is in position 2 instead of 5"? Totally bewildering to a non-mathematical brain.

The official answers haven't been issued yet. I think when the number of reported suicides reaches a critical mass they will be forced to reveal the truth.

Posted by: @jack-dodds

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@graeme-ogg You are a cold man Mr. Ogg.......

You can come out of your corner now, go to the blackboard and write "BUCK - KING - HAM  PAL - ACE" 20 times (you know, one time for each finger on both hands, then the same again) and we will consider the matter closed.

@geoff-jowett 

Based on the answer to the first question Geoff, I suspect the answer to that circular number sequence in the second puzzle is not arithmetical but another place name. Previous year GCHQ quizzes have tended to be thematic.

@graeme-ogg DOH!  Between you, Paul, Geoff and David, I'm beginning for the first time to question the worthiness of my framed and mounted Certificate of Attendance.  I admit I am deeply rattled...am I not an intellectual equal?...it's consuming my thoughts...heeey, is that donuts I smell!!?  Mmmmm.....donuts!

@graeme-ogg Thanks Graeme.  I was soooo close....I had Buck-King-Bell-Brothers-Ace.

Posted by: @jack-dodds

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@graeme-ogg DOH!  Between you, Paul, Geoff and David, I'm beginning for the first time to question the worthiness of my framed and mounted Certificate of Attendance.  I admit I am deeply rattled...am I not an intellectual equal?...it's consuming my thoughts...heeey, is that donuts I smell!!?  Mmmmm.....donuts!

 

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the membership of The Lounge includes a disproportionate number of individuals whose intellectual and academic attainments fall within the “near genius” category but who, because of their innate shyness and modesty (and a desire not to cause feelings of inadequacy in lesser mortals) make strenuous efforts to moderate or “throttle back” their instinctive urge to overwhelm their fellow members with endless pearls of wisdom, perspicacity and unimpeachable logic. They do this by affecting an air of possessing moderately retarded thought processes. And it has to be said that, for the most part, their efforts have been totally and utterly convincing. But every now and then they can’t help letting their underlying brilliance shine through, and one appreciates that this may be a little dispiriting at times. But just hang in there as best you can with the admittedly limited resources at your disposal.

(Of course, you will appreciate that, as ever, my comments are intended to be encouraging and morally uplifting, rather than disparaging in any shape or form.)

Posted by: @graeme-ogg

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But what on earth does Claude mean by saying "number 0 is in position 32 instead of 4"? Or "32 is in position 2 instead of 5"? Totally bewildering to a non-mathematical brain.

You're right, I misspoke there. Let me clarify:

The numbers that were written out of order are:

- The number 3 is in the correct position, position 3.
- The number 30 is in position 2, instead of the correct position 4.
- The number 32 is in position 2, instead of the correct position 5.
- And so on, going through each number that is out of place.

When calculating the total error, I'm looking at how far each number is from its correct position in the sequence of 1 to 20. I should not have referred to positions beyond 20, as that doesn't make sense for this puzzle.

Please let me know if this explanation makes more sense or if you have any other questions!