h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've finally got it!! My # is 835417.

(8+35)-(sqrt4)+(1^7)=42

( 8 - 3 + 5 - 4 * 1 ) * 7 = a little less complicated

Or a little more complicated:

8 mod 35 + 41 - 7 = 42

Jeremy

Blast it!!! Why couldn't I have thought of those? By the way what does" 8 mod 35" mean?

<< what does "8 mod 35" mean? >>

It means THREE... as in

35 divided by 8 = 4 and THREE eighths

Sorry, six7s, it's just the other way 'round:

8 mod 35 gives you the rest if you divide 8 by 35:

8/35 = 0 rest 8

I admit it's a nasty way to cheat a bit in the search for a 42ism ...

If you want no-bracket solutions, my program suggests:

8*3+5-4+17
8-3+54-17
8-3+5*4+17

No, no you've all got it wrong...its in the book!!!!
When Arthur Dent pulls scrabble pieces form a bag on prehistoric earth, he pulls out:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
6 x 9 = 42 !!!!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
This is correct.

*ADVANCED MATH WARNING*

The trick is that it is not in base 10 like we use.
It is in base 13.
If you don't know what bases are: go get a college math book or ask a math teacher.

A quick example:
Base 10 uses the digits 0-9 (10 digits)
Binary (base 2) just uses the digits 1 and 0 (2 digits)

Base 13 works for 6 x 9...i've checked with several math teachers!!

Now the symbolism is that .......... well there is no symbolism or reasons......

Of course it might mean that we were suppossed to use base 13 or that is what god uses...or someting.......lets let the philosphers figure that one out.

Well now you have it...the true question of: Life, the Universe, and Everything!!!


Hitchhike all the way there!!!!!!!

The solution (question) is only "6 x 9" because the question-finding computer (Earth) was pushed off track by unexpected events.
One understandable *asumption* is that without the interference, the question might well have been "What is 6 x 7?"

Finally I can also hold my head high ! I'm #1229604, so:

-(1+2+2+9)*(6^0-4)=42

or

(1+2+(2*9))*cos60*4=42

I like the first one best though, it seems more *pure* somehow...

Excellent!

If you don't mind doubled figures, the cleanest answer my formula-finding program suggests came up with was 1+22+9+6+0+4

Must have blanked out, that one never occurred to me

Before I wrote the program, I spent ages working one out manually for myself, ending up with (9-2)*(5+8^0), then realised that 9+25+8+0 did the trick just as easily.

All very good - glad to see 42ism is still going strong....

All very good - glad to see the myth is still going strong...

double post I think...