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

to a tessellate plain come two disparate hordes
to fight to the death in the name of their lords

one faction may triumph or both may be shamed
but no man shows merit and none can be blamed

pawns battle upward and never look back
knights gad about cutting through to attack

bishops adopt contradictory attitudes
rooks set up strongholds enthralling new latitudes

queens go in style with the trappings of fame
kings back their champions to capture the game

unmourned, unenlightened, we shuffle away
to face resurrection when gods stoop to play

The visit would have been worthwhile for this alone. I find your style graphic and satisfying. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you Researcher 229466, and welcome.
I hope you discover your own hootoo identity soon.
In the meantime might I remark how curious it is: 2 x 29 - 4 - 6 - 6 = 42.

Yes, but did you know.....

3+4+5+6+7+8+9 = 42 and 9+10+11+12 = 42?

Well no I didn't! Maybe you could help me with 208656. So far the best I have is 20 - 8 + six fives (yes, six) = 42.

Now that I think of it 20+ 8 + 6 + int.(sqr root 5) + 6 = 42 too.

But that's still messy.

Looks fascinating, but I'll have to pop back later.

(-2+0+8)*(6-5+6)=42

That is so neat, it's going in straight away!

Merci, Boîte aux Jouets!

I'm lost. Why is that so neat? Is this an esoteric pursuit?

My own formula for my Researcher number was "twenty minus eight plus six fives (yes, six) equals 42". It relies as I said on a sidestep (repeating 'six' without the repetition entering into the calculation). I had posted it in my Journal, but it had slopped down the page and off the end. Toy Box's superior solution has now been incorporated into my "about me" paragraph. Nothing stranger than that.

Sorry, slipped down the page. It's late.

I don't understand why Toy Boxes effort is so cool. There must be a million ways (many more for sure) to reach 42 (I've done it myself!)

I think A530560 explains it all. The point is to get 42 using only the digits appearing in your U-number and in the same order (in your case 2 2 9 4 6 6; Recumbentman had to use 2 0 8 6 5 6 and I had 2 0 8 4 6 4).

Apart from these two constraints, more or less any operation is allowed.

Thanks for the towel. I must be very lucky! The following was found within minutes:

(2x2)x(root 9)+(4x6)+6=42

Can't find a root....story of my life!

Can one express (2x2) as 2 squared?

You might prefer:

2/2 + (9-4) + (6x6) = 42


Or...... ( ( (2/2) + (9-4) ) x 6 ) + 6 = 42


Should I look further? I am not a mathematician.

2^2 looks nice if you want a variant on 2x2

You're not a mathematician?? How do you come up with all the formulas then?

I did go to school.

Woo Woo! I know lots of who went to school.

I am following you, arn't I?

OK inspired by your anateur status as a mathematician, I have tried again with my U nimber, and come up with

(2 plus 0) into 86 + 5 - 6 = 42

But is there any mathematical symbol for "into"?