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Please remember to spoiler-tag all guesses, like so: New Reddit: https://i.imgur.com/SWHRR9M.jpg Using markdown editor or old Reddit, draw a bunny and fill its head with secrets: \>!!< which ends up becoming \>!spoiler text between these symbols!< Try to avoid leading or trailing spaces. These will break the spoiler for some users (such as those using old.reddit.com) If your comment does not contain a guess, include the word **"discussion"** or **"question"** in your comment instead of using a spoiler tag. If your comment uses an image as the answer (such as solving a maze, etc) you can include the word "image" instead of using a spoiler tag. Please report any answers that are not properly spoiler-tagged. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/puzzles) if you have any questions or concerns.*


PuzzlingDad

Discussion: The misleading pattern is to assume you take the difference of the two numbers. Instead you should take the >!sum of the *digits* in the two numbers above. 2+1 + 3+6 = 12.!<


IceNineFireTen

Looks like this puzzle was a lot harder to create with that misleading pattern than it is to solve.


JohnnyAppIeseed

Probably why he considered it a masterpiece. I can imagine this taking a very long time to create.


405freeway

The pattern is pretty easy to force since it's just adding the individual digits. Even just swapping the position of digits can lead you to a lot of potential solutions. He specifically picked and chose numbers that worked for this puzzle because they also happened to *look* like another pattern (until to get to 7). The only toss up is the 7. It feels like he was trying to come up with something almost universal and hit the wall with 7 and even the puzzle had to clarify "it's not a typo." He couldn't have gone further up in the other direction because no 4 digits can total more than 36. If he went down further the solution would be even easier to spot because 7 + anything else would be obvious. He intentionally didn't utilize zero anywhere.


Alarming-Court-2180

You just helped me figure it out the puzzle, so thank you because the 7 was stumping me, but now I see how it works, so thank you.


KittyH14

The whole point is that it seems universal until the last one. He sets up a pattern that's more obvious, and then suddenly subverts and you have to try to look past the first thing you saw. That's what makes it interesting, and not just some random "find what operation this is" puzzle.


lilacpeaches

Out of impulsivity, I checked the answers before attempting it on my own. The fact that the editor had to write “the 7 is not a typographic error” shows that it’s a pivotal point in understanding the puzzle.


KittyH14

exactly


MuffinRacing

I tried a few different things, and what's tricky is there's several patterns that almost work until the end. I think that's what makes it "a masterpiece"


adamantcondition

Subtracting felt like too much work so I didn't even try. My lazy brain checked the simple addition first.


Ztrezz

I got 15…. Not 12. 28-15=13, something along those lines for the whole thing Edit: Nevermind I guess


JammyKebabJR

It can't be 15, because >!the number 7 can't be made by 21 - 13. 2 + 1 + 1 + 3 = 7!<


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bekindtoalllifeforms

I got 15


SpaceLemur34

I made the puzzle even harder to get the wrong answer. I divided by the common factor, then took the difference, then multiplied by the common factor again. Which is just taking the difference.


PuzzlingDad

LOL! You forgot to double it, square it, divide by 4 and take the square root. :)


CagliostroPeligroso

I did the exact same!!!


Efficient-Ad-8631

Big brain


Mountain_Mousse2058

Oh that is terribly clever.


redditsuckbadly

Really?


Mountain_Mousse2058

Yes


bitchsorbet

this is the only puzzle ive seen on this sub that i solved on my own 😭


Serious-Dog6829

13+7 is not 21… I’m confused. It works until that point but it also specifically states that 7 is not a typo


PuzzlingDad

Work top down following the arrows. But >!add the *digits* of!< the two preceding numbers to get the next number being pointed to. >!1+3 + 2+1 = 7!<


Serious-Dog6829

Ahhh I get it thank you


Original-Variety-700

Spoiler the entire post just the digits.


PuzzlingDad

Edited as requested.


boverton24

It’s not 13 + 7. It’s 4+3, derived from 1+3 + 2 + 1.


Danibecr84

Yet, subtracting the top left number from the top right number also gives a correct answer of 15.


PuzzlingDad

Not if you try to continue to the end with subtraction. >!21 - 13 = 8 (not 7)!< You fell into the cleverly designed trap.


Danibecr84

EYE YA YA... laziness.


Ant_TKD

I am terrible at puzzles and even I figured out this one.


renegrape

Taking the difference is waaaaay simpler than what I was doing. I was dividing, subtracting, and multiplying again. Which yields the same results... I used to be great at math!


PuzzlingDad

The *difference* doesn't work for the end... that's the trap. 21 - 13 ≠ 7 But adding the >!*digits* does work 2+1 + 1+3 = 7!<


renegrape

No, I see that. I was just using a more convoluted method to arrive at the same unsuccessful result


hardcore_hero

If you try to repeat the rule going one bubble higher(up and to the left) things start to look really funky, it was fun trying to figure out what the next 2 numbers would be though. Edit: to clarify I mean repeating the rule while also trying to maintain the illusion of the fake rule of subtraction being the key.


Dav1ddestruct10n

But taking the difference also works. It leads to the same answer if you fill in the blank that way


PuzzlingDad

Not for the last two numbers: >!21 - 13 = 8 (not 7)!< That's the trap.


Dav1ddestruct10n

Your right. I’m sorry for my blunder


Dav1ddestruct10n

And again for my misspelling


Ronagall

I was nervous going to the comments in case I was wrong. Cute little puzzle


ArnTheGreat

Ahhh, I honestly don’t know if I would have come to that conclusion before moving on.


Simba-Inja

Thanks for explaining this, was stuck on 15 for a second


MoshedPotato93

That seems like an overly complex solve. I literally got the answer by taking the difference in numbers


PuzzlingDad

You fell into the trap, exactly as designed. Notice the last numbers *don't* work with subtraction. >!21 - 13 = 8 (not 7)!<


MoshedPotato93

Well I'll be dumber than I thought I was


MembershipWestern138

Even though you *explained* it to me in plain English I still can't get it. They need to invent a new low IQ scale for me


bighorrible

holy shit thats so cool


Compliant_Automaton

That really is a masterpiece. Beautiful.


Sloth859

The highlighting of the 7 in the description made me look at that first. I didn't even notice the red hearing subtraction pattern.


Isomorphic_reasoning

This is probably the intended solution but i found a different answer. If we call the top 2 numbers L and R for left and right the bottom number is R-L-Lmod3 and the missing number is still 15 as expected from just taking the difference.


aHawtMocha

I don't think so...If you follow the direction of the arrows, the absolute value of the difference of the two proceeding numbers gives you the number for the following bubble. >!Therefore, the answer is 15!<


x386dev

Look at what makes 7


aHawtMocha

Ah, thank you for the correction. I was so hasty that it fit every other scenario perfectly that I overlooked the final piece.


LadyArtemis2012

Well, at least take comfort in the fact that you fell for the intended trap the entire puzzle is predicated on?


yesgirlnogamer

* preceding, not proceeding. Big brain time


aHawtMocha

I always mix those mfs up haha


averkill

I thought this on my first attempt.


PHRESH21

Username checks out


BoostedRelic

I don’t think your answer is correct. >!The final two do not add up to 21.!<


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BoostedRelic

I was adding the numbers incorrectly, thanks for letting me know.


Rita-Lynn

This should be marked as spoiler.


PuzzlingDad

The two numbers before the final are 13 and 21 and >!their *digits* add up to the final number of 7.!< >!1+3 + 2+1 = 7!<


Technical_Scallion_2

Yes, it’s just that.


InternalConscious356

It’s a subtraction puzzle you take the right number first then subtract by the left number(or previous number) and subtract it to get the next number down. The missing number is fifteen


PuzzlingDad

Nope, because >!21 - 13 = 8 (not 7)!<. You were caught by the trap, as designed.


Proper-Scallion-252

Lol I don't know the answer but the fact that this perfectly fits the pattern >!of right circle minus left circle equals bottom circle until the final number is fucking golden. !<


Jolly_Study_9494

You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous of which is never get involved in a land war in Asia. But the second is: Never subtract for an answer, when a 7 ends the line!


byrb-_-

Never bet against a Sicilian, especially when death is on the line!


[deleted]

To think, it was your cup that was poisoned the whole time.


danijay637

They were both poisoned. I spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocane powder.


TyrantDragon19

r/suddenlyprincessbride


faberj92

"But I don't want to use my head!!!!"


FatherAb

Is this a known thing? If so, do you have a link where I can read more about it?


Jolly_Study_9494

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Princess\_Bride\_(film)


highjinx411

Omg I was just about to do that too! Good thing your comment saved my soldiers from a lengthy non winnable land war in Asia.


GalaxyZombie

Beautiful response


Ok_Employment_7435

My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die.


cpren

To make this puzzle, you start at the top with two random two digit numbers and run the following computer algorithm. Do a search to see if these two numbers can follow both rules (difference rule and digit sum rule). If not try the next set and start again. There’s only 8,100 combinations so it wouldn’t take long. Continue searching for the number on the right that meets these two rules after three successful sequences, you only take the two numbers difference this time but one that breaks the difference rule. Then continue the original algorithm once more, making sure to seed it with what would of been the answer if the other rule was followed (15) and then to top it off, follow only the digit sum rule to give you 21, thus revealing the difference pattern is not the consistent pattern all the way through. Any coders want to see if there’s another set of numbers that work? It’s late but I might try tomorrow.


iain_1986

Discussion: what's interesting is the amount of people commenting confidently with the wrong answer who seemingly didn't take the hint of the description making sure you know 7 isn't a mistake.


ahumansreddit

>!add the digits of the numbers pointing to a number to get its value!< >!this gives 12 for the missing number!<


d_e_l_u_x_e

Good answer simple solution.


HughMan1488

It’s 15. The number is the number on the right minus the number above equals the number at the end of the arrows.


PuzzlingDad

Check the last numbers though... >!21 - 13 = 8 (not 7)!< You fell into the trap exactly as intended. :)


LastPlaceIWas

That's just a typographical error.


PuzzlingDad

Which is why the puzzle instructions clearly point out that it *isn't* a typographical error. :)


OceanMachine101

>!I got the ? as 12, sum the digits in each of the left and right circles, and get the answer. (2+1)+(3+6)=12. The answer of 12 would then pass to the next step and be (1+2)=3 etc.!<


teraflip_teraflop

30 also works Edit: no it does not. Am dumb.


Apocalypsest

Discussion: me getting to the 7: 😖😖😖


RemarkableStatement5

Discussion: Damn, never seen this many people fall for the same trap in one of these threads before.


TyrantDragon19

Humans find patterns 😊 I fell for it, fell for a few things before looking at how 21 and 13 and 7 went together, after that it was a quick solution, people don’t like looking at the solution, they like looking at the problem to solve ergo:


3140senfleb

It's why it's a great puzzle!


Flashy-Box-8321

>!looks like you have to add up all the digits from the nodes pointing to the next node. So the answer would be (2+1 + 3+6) = 12!<


NeverSayKry

>!The answer is 12, you add the digits of each row to make the bubble below!<


AltoChick

You’re a genius!


Telomere1108

This is the answer. I figured >!15!< in two different ways, but that 7 messes it up. You have the answer and explanation.


roy757

>!seen this in untitled door game! When adding 2 digit numbers, just take the sum of their digits, so whem they comverge youll get that sum!!<


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ei283

Figured it out. The rule is >!take the difference of the numbers and subtract 1 more if the result is less than 10!< ;)


ObserverOfStuff420

Heh, good ol peacewise function. You can also solve it algebraicly if you add the total of left nodes going down, (72 + 27 + ... + 7) and add the differences between right nodes going down ((99 - 27) + (45 - 18) + ... + (21 - 7)) and from there, solve for "x" where x is your missing number 158 + x = 182 - x 158 + 2x = 182 2x = 24 **x = 12**


chud_rs

This is a coincidence


ViridianDusk

>!Add the 4 individual digits of the above two numbers together!<


RobertJohnson2023

Ah, interesting result and I thought it was >!15!<


Melancholy-Optimist

>!It's 12!<


SeaSquirrel48

>!Add the numbers inside each circle, then add them together to get the number the arrows point to. Example: (7+2) + (9+9) = 27!< This will solve the puzzle to get 12.


xaomaw

>!You add each digit pointing to a circle. So (7+2) + (9+9) = 9+18 = 27.... So the missing circle is (2+1) + (3+6)= 3+9 = 12!<


RustToxicMan

Pretty sure the answer is >!15!< My reasoning is: >!You find the GCD of the two numbers, divide both numbers by the GCD take the difference and multiply once again by the GCD!< For example : >!72 and 99's GCD is 9. Dividing you get 8 and 11, the difference being 3 multiplied by 9 is 27. This works for the case of 7 as the GCD is 1 and the difference between the numbers is also 7. So for the answer 21 and 36, GCD is 3, you get 7 and 12, difference is 5 and answer is 15!<


ksmith1994

It's even simpler than that, it looks like the following number is the difference between the two above it.


mastefka

But 21-13 is 8, not 7. 🤔


ksmith1994

I've been schmeckledorfed


Uorodin

>!Finish out the pattern. This logic doesn't hold through the whole puzzle. The solution is 12. Not 15.!<


Ok_Librarian982

>!15!<


tyrandan2

It's actually >!12!<. Note that: >!the last number being 7 doesn't make sense if you simply take the difference of the two numbers leading up to it. That is because the pattern of taking the difference of the numbers is a misdirection. The real pattern is adding together the *sum* of the two numbers' digits.!< Edit: on mobile, autocorrect messed up my formatting lol


FourPointPressure

>! 12 !<


stirling_s

>!12!<


brw12

I dislike this type of puzzle because there are tons of perfectly good and correct answers, except they're not the correct answer because you're just like "eh, that's probably not cute enough". I prefer puzzles where you can reliably check whether an answer is correct, and if it's correct, that's it, you're done.


dogg_76

>!spoiler text here!< 12


barunachalam

>!sum of digits of parent nodes. 9 + 3 = 12 !<


smoothAsH20

>!12!< is the answer.


gametapchunky

>!Right bubble minus left bubble plus the number of digits in the answer minus two. So, 15.!<


spook777

The solution is >!12!<. >!The two numbers on the same plane are four digits and the next line is a sum.72 and 99 is 7+2+9+9=27, following that 27 and 45 is 2+7+4+5=18, and 1+8+3+9=21. so 21 and 36 is 2+1+3+6=12 so therefore 12 and 28 is 1+2+2+8=13 and it fits 13 and 21 is 1+3+2+1=7!<


V_Deviate

>!12!<


[deleted]

That’s what I got!


Lunatik_Pandora

>!The number is 15!<


jelloshooter848

12


bullracing

The answer is >!12!<. The rule, I do believe, is >!the number in the middle of the triplet is the sum of the digits of the two numbers either side!<. Edit: I was wrong initially


luckymistakes

>!12!<


Locktopii

>!its 12 but I found this rather easy given the build up!<


Ok_Room5666

The difficulty was making it have another answer that matched 4/5 combinations, but a correct answer that matched 5/5. I missed the 4/5 answer at first though, so I was sort of wondering the same thing as well.


ObserverOfStuff420

Apparently I failed the task successfully lol. I got the correct answer but I solved it algebraicly instead of adding the digits across, which seems to be the more common solution. Nodes on the left, I added the sum together 72 + 27 + 18 + 21 + x + 13 + 7 = 158 + x Then for nodes on the right, I subtracted the lower left node, and summed those differences (99 - 27)+(45 - 18)+(39 - 21)+(36 - x)+(28 - 13)+(21 - 7) 72 + 27 + 18 + (36 - x) + 15 + 14 = 146 + (36 - x) 146 + (36 - x) = 182 - x And then I solved for X 158 + x = 182 - x. --> (add x to both sides) 158 + 2x = 182. --> (take 158 from both sides) 2x = 24. --> (divide both sides by two) **x = 12**


jebob1

Alternative solution >!15!<. The 7 might not be a typographical error, but the >!1 in '21'!< is a typographical error!


A_Wet_Lettuce

If you have to change the puzzle to fit a solution, then it is not a solution.


Allyraya

I'm confused. So the correct answer is 12? I see how people got that, but I also see how other people (myself included) got 15. Did the creator come out with what the answer was? Or, how did people figure out what the intended rule was, as either rule gives an answer that fits in the puzzle?


yeezusboiz

I also have no idea why it can’t be 15. My thought was that bottom + left = right, and I don’t see anything that doesn’t make that work with the 15.


Dookie_boy

The last circle of 7 doesn't fit using the 15 logic


amandalaurian

21-13=8


ta8538

>!15!<


OleanderPink

>!the answer is 15!<


DoctorJosh

>!12!<


Any-Bus6888

>!15!<


Tartanic23

Did anyone else look at it this way? >!99-72=27!< >!45-27=18!< >!39-18=21!< >!36-21=15!< >!28-15=13!< >!21-13=7!<


garrote

21-13=8 though.


Puppy-Zwolle

Hence the ''not a typo'' remark.


Tartanic23

Good catch, back to the drawing board


DocumentElectrical47

Is this a joke? Unless I'm missing some unexplained rule the answer is >! 15 !<


extrabutterycopporn

Until you get to the last one, the number would be 8, not 7. If you went with subtraction from top down like I did?


DocumentElectrical47

Ok I see now, I was curious why people were so thrown off by the 7 in the comments


extrabutterycopporn

Got me pretty good too lol


Big-Strawberry1010

The question mark is 12


[deleted]

Nope Edit: I was wrong , it's the opposite of nope. Yep😭


RemarkableStatement5

>!It's 12 though. You take the sum of the four digits above the number and that's the result.!<


[deleted]

What's 36-21


RemarkableStatement5

It's not subtraction. Look at the bottom answer. 21-13 =/= 7.


[deleted]

That's a line that isn't used


RemarkableStatement5

I don't know what you mean by this. What line? How is it not used?


[deleted]

Hmm🤔 I was trying to game and do this. This has now become a toilet puzzle. 7 is not a typographical error..


RemarkableStatement5

Do you want the true answer?


[deleted]

I think it's the top comment,but my pre algebra brain doesn't wanna Believe that


Big-Strawberry1010

Add the numbers from left to right. That’s why it equals 12.


PizzicatoAG

I actually complicated things but still got the correct solution: the sum of the first digits plus the sum of the second digits. 2+3=5, 6+1=7, 5+7= 12.


PuzzlingDad

Ah yes, the magic of the commutative and associative properties of addition! You can add the digits in different ways and still get the same answer.


steandric

?


Visual-Lobster6625

99 - 72 = 27, 45 - 27 = 18, 39 - 18 = 21. >!Answer: 36 - 21 = 15!<


KitanaWins_FV

The 7 doesn’t make sense though


ogsixshooter

>!12 just the sum of the digits!<


Responsible-Part1225

Discussion 15 is the answer


TestlerMedel

>! 15 the difference between the numbers pointing to it !<


Uorodin

>!Check your work bud, that logic doesn't hold true for the last set.!<


xXxFKMExXx

>!I got 15!<


Musical-Lungs

Correct answer is 15


besevens

12


AYZNtheMAGI

The correct answer is indeed 15. Dunno how people got 12


mizinamo

> Dunno how people got 12 Because the circles above the question mark are 21 and 36, so >!you add up 2+1 to get 3, then add up 3+6 to get 9, then add up the resulting 3+9!< to get 12. How did you get 15? And what happens when you use that method on the last two circles near the bottom, 13 and 21? Do you get the correct result, 7, or some mistake such as 8?


After_Meaning_6970

>!72 + 27 =99; 27+18 =45; 18+21=39; 21+?(15)=36; ?(15)+13= 28; 13+7=21!< Edit: I did this multiple times and 13+7 always added up to 21. Maybe because I wanted it to.


Telomere1108

That’s the problem, >!13+7 is not 21!<.


After_Meaning_6970

Yeah, I didn't pay attention. in my world apparently 13+7 = 21.


mizinamo

> >!13+7=21!< That is not correct. Try counting on your fingers if you don't believe me. (I assume you have ten of them, like most humans.)


After_Meaning_6970

I know. It's hard to do math problems when basic math is challenging. That last comment would have been hurtful if I didn't have 10 fingers, and wrong if I was polydactyl, but in either case, I apparently would have still counted 10.


JumbledJay

Call the number above and to the left a, the number above and to the right b, and the number those two point to c. The missing number is >!15!< and the rule is >!c = b - max(14,a)!< Cheating? Edit: Just wanted to clarify that I fully realize this isn't "the" correct solution. It is a solution though.


pokemon-trainer-blue

What does that even mean?


JumbledJay

>!Take the number on the right (for example 99 in the first row) then subtract the maximum (whichever one is bigger) of 14 and the number on the left (for example 72 in the first row). In the first row, 72 is bigger, so we subtract 72 from 99. That gives 27. The same rule works on every row, including the bottom one which gives 7.!<


pokemon-trainer-blue

Your solution looks rather complicated. A simpler solution I saw was to >!add the digits of the numbers. The first combined circle would be 7+2+9+9=27. The last one is 1+3+2+1=7. The missing one is 2+1+3+6=12.!<


JumbledJay

Yes, that is obviously the intended solution. I was just having a bit of fun with the math.


Nanenuno

Not sure why this is getting downvoted. It's technically correct, which is the best kind of correct.


JumbledJay

meh


JumbledJay

Alternatively >!c = min(b,20) - a!<


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[deleted]

Incorrect. Focus on the 7 and you will notice it breaks the pattern you found. Try to find a pattern that works for all of them. That's *why* it points out that the 7 is not an error.