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Sunday 17 August 2014

Sunday Afternoon Maths XXV

Here's this week's collection. Answers & extensions tomorrow. Why not discuss the problems on Twitter using #SundayAfternoonMaths or on Reddit. This Tuesday is Maths Jam, make sure you're there!
It's less than two weeks 'til EMF Camp, where there will be talks on maths and science and a whole load of other awesome stuff. Tickets here

Whist

Messrs. Banker, Dentist, Apothecary and Scrivener played whist last night. (whist is a four player card game where partners sit opposite each other.) Each of these gentlemen is the namesake of another's vocation.
Last night, the apothecary partnered Mr. Apothecary; Mr. Banker's partner was the scrivener; on Mr. Scrivener's right sat the dentist.
Who sat on the banker's left?

Polya Strikes Out

Write the numbers 1, 2, 3, ... in a row. Strike out every third number beginning with the third. Write down the cumulative sums of what remains:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, ...
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, ...
1, 2, 4, 5, 7, ...
1=1; 1+2=3; 1+2+4=7; 1+2+4+5=12; 1+2+4+5+7=19; ...
1, 3, 7, 12, 19, ...
Now strike out every second number beginning with the second. Write down the cumulative sums of what remains. What is the final sequence? Why do you get this sequence?

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