Frank Kaszar may be the first person to be suffering from Road Sign Math addiction. For this post, his submission is being included verbatim.

Dear Administrator,

I am terribly pleased to finally be submitting this sign. I noticed it in February and was fascinated by the numbers involved. There were a lot of them, but they worked together surprisingly well. The numbers were 172, 172, 165, 165, 41, 43, and 57. I began working on the sign because 43 went evenly into 172 to make 4, which is a conveniently square number. However, as I continued to work with these numbers I was stunned at all the other interesting ways they worked together. Other square numbers besides that initial 4 can be found relatively easily. 43 + 57 is 100, and 57 – 41 is 16. If you use the 4 garnered from 172 / 43, you can do 165 + 4 to get 169 or do 172 + 4! to make 196. Furthermore, 172 – 165 is 7. If you add that to 57 you’ve got 64 and if you subtract it from 43 you get 36. These seven square numbers are only a few of the fun ways that these numbers work together.

Although there were so many ways to manipulate the numbers, I was chagrined to find that it wasn’t particularly easy to find a solution. For several weeks most of the time that I had previously spent doodling in class was spent working with these numbers. I tried everything I could possibly think of. I was very often close (several times I noted that if I had a 1 the problem would have worked out) but I never came to a real solution. It was frustrating not finding a solution, but I couldn’t give up on these numbers because I kept finding new ways to work with them.

This brings us to late March. I was out driving one day and I thought I would humor myself by driving past the sign to make sure that I had all of the numbers correct. As I came to the sign, I sighed because yes, I had all of the numbers right. However, just as I was passing the sign, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a sign apart from the other signs on the structure. I wasn’t sure if I had seen it correctly so I had to get off at the next exit and come back to see it again. It seems that somehow, in trying to make a mental note of all of the numbers above the road, I had neglected the 45 mph on the ramp sign. I was thrilled! This number was the key to solving the mystery that had haunted me for more than a month. Now that I had 45, the solutions began rolling in. It’s amazing how much of a difference one number can make.

I have included in my submission the picture of the sign (of course), but also a picture of several equations that use these numbers. After all that work and such diverse ways of manipulating these numbers, I couldn’t let it go just submitting one solution. You don’t have to post them all, I just wanted to share them because I was so fascinated with how these numbers work together. I had to write them because I didn’t know how to type some of this stuff out. I hope you don’t mind, and I hope it’s legible. If not, let me know and I will try something else. The first equation on the sheet is the one I would like for my official one, as it has the highest overall score. The second one is the most elegant of the bunch (just addition and subtraction). The rest are all just sort of fun and use different functions.

Thank you for making your way through this verbose e-mail. Sorry for the length, but I thought the story was worth it. Have a fantastic day.

Sincerely,

Frank Kaszar

Without further ado, Mr. Kaszar’s sign.

Mr. Kaszar puts together a great string of square roots. Break it down yourself, it’s a nice simplification, I think you will be impressed.

Mr. Kaszar also includes his worksheet with the alternative solutions for this sign. Well done sir!

This sign is on highway 41 southbound near Green Bay, Wisconsin. See sign on map!

Frank Kaszar found this wonderful mathematically significant roadsign while out for a long drive. He brought his camera just in case he found something, and find something he did!

Mr. Kaszar doesn’t even need to tell us the solution to this sign.

This sign is on Route 41 southbound in Wisconsin heading towards Green Bay. See sign on map!

Frank Kaszar finds this mathematically significant roadsign that pays tribute to the late, great football hero Vince Lombardi. If you were to get off there you would quickly arrive at the famous Lambeau Field where the Green Bay Packers play.

Mr. Kaszar doesn’t get discouraged by the addition of those big numbers with the simple 1, 2, 3 series.

This sign is in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Route 41 north. See sign on map!

Frank Kaszar brings this wonderful, and expansive, sign from De Pere, Wisconsin. The sign assemblage is located right next to Lazy Gecko’s, a college hangout for Saint Norbert College. This sign stretches the lengths of rule #2, and is completely valid.

Mr. Kaszar sets a Road Sign Math with the very first sign to ever use a summation function!

This sign is on Reid Street in De Pere, Wisconsin. See sign on map!

Dennis Daily brings only the second sign from the cheese state of Wisconsin. This sign is caught “at speed” while cruising down the interstate.

The math here is very nice, and fairly easy to catch. Just need to notice the 9 and the 1!

This sign is on eastbound I-94 in Wisconsin at exit 105 into Hixton. The GPS coordinates are approximately N44.38819 W91.00532. See sign on map!

The hunt for mathematically significant roadsigns is a bug that bites some people worse than others. Particularly problematic is when that bug bites us and we have no particular need for a road trip! When the time comes to go on the hunt during a drive the excitement, and potential feeling of failure, can be too much. Dave Oosterhuis, first time sign winner, gives this account of his wonderful find.

Dear Road Sign Math,

I can’t tell you how excited I was to see this sign. It had been a long, dull trip from Minneapolis to Ann Arbor and back. Looking for signs had helped keep me alert, but after twenty-something hours of driving I was beginning to despair. Then I saw this! What a thrill! I don’t have a GPS, but it’s about 17 miles from the MN-WI border on I-94 westbound. In Wisconsin, I should add, making it perhaps the first recorded in that state? I hope the picture, taken at speed at night, is sufficient. Otherwise I could probably take a Sunday drive back out there.

Yours,

Dave Oosterhuis

No need for a new photo Dave, and yes, you are the first person to put Wisconsin on the board! A gold star for you! Keep sending in the signs!

Note: the photograph was taken at night.

This is a wonderful example of simple math that should just knock people down when they see it. Remember that the 95 is disregarded due to rule 4.

15 + 16 = 31

This sign is found heading westbound on I-94 in Wisconsin just prior to crossing the river into Minnesota. The GPS coordinates are approximately N44 56 30.9 W92 26 47.1. See sign on map!