(Competition finished) Crack the Code and win tons of Gold bars!
Comments
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First, I would like to say congratulations to those who cracked the code!
This
was the trickiest problem of all to be sure! Now that the competition is over, I hope it is okay for me to ask a few questions concerning the point values in this math problem:
If we look at the second equation (the one with the cupcakes) each cupcake's point value increases by 1 for each layer added (the 1-layer base cupcake is worth 1 point, the 2-layer white-frosted cupcake is worth 2, and 3-layer strawberry-swirl cupcake is worth 3) giving us the answer: 1 + 2 + 3 = 6.
In the third equation, we have a 2-layer chocolate worth a point value of 10 (1 + 1 + 10 = 12). In the final equation we have a 1-layer chocolate worth a point value of 5 (5 + 1 + 5 = 11). My question is, why is the value of the 1-layer chocolate worth only half as many points as the 2-layer, when there is only a single-layer difference between the two? The 2-layer cupcake is not worth half as many points as the 3-layer.
Additionally, why is the blueberry-topped cupcake worth 5 points, when it appears that there are only 4 layers present (cupcake base, white-frosted layer, strawberry-swirl layer, blueberry layer)? The base layer holds a point value of 1, the second layer 2, and the third 3. Shouldn't the additional layer with the blueberry be worth 4 not 5?
If anyone would care to clear this up for me I would very much appreciate it!
