Road Sign Math

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October 9th, 2007 · 5 Comments

It’s nice to see the site back up and running. I discovered this right as it went dormant and have been eager to participate.

These signs are found on Cedar Street in Millville, New Jersey just as one pulls into Lakeside Middle School.

Zoom of the bottom part of this sign shows an extensive array of numbers.

The math here is borderline crazy to deal with the huge number of numbers in this sign. Nineteen numbers in all may be a new record!

3 \times (26-17) \times ( (30-26) – ( (45+30+20) – ( (367-226) – ( {{6576-2001} \over { {{45} \over {7+2}} }} – 866 ) ) ) ) = (8+1) \times 3

Ahhh, yeah. Right. Let’s reduce this down and see if it really works.

3 \times 9 \times ( 4 – ( 95 – ( 141 – ( {4575 \over { 5 }} – 866 ) ) ) ) = (8+1) \times 3
3 \times 9 \times ( 4 – ( 95 – ( 141 – 49 ) ) ) = (8+1) \times 3
3 \times 9 \times 1 = (8+1) \times 3
27 = 27

Whew, that’s a trip through math class!

Tags: New Jersey

5 responses so far ↓

  • 1 geoffhazel // Oct 12, 2007 at 8:51 pm

    That is what RSM is all about!! Great job.

  • 2 eCache » Archives » Dot . . . Dot . . . Dot . . . // Oct 25, 2007 at 9:12 pm

    [...] It dawned on me this morning as I taught my students how to use parentheses in mathematics, that my hobby and my vocation are merging . . . If you’re not a Thomas Hawk fan, do yourself a favor and [...]

  • 3 Randy Weiss // Dec 27, 2007 at 5:19 pm

    Been a while since RSM has been active – I’ve been away even longer, sorry.
    This sign’s math is pretty impressive – I don’t want to slam it in any way…but can’t resist the chance to ask for __RULE__ clarifications. We ran into trouble with loose rules before.
    1> Think the very small print on signs is NOT eligible or necessary to make a sign “Add Up”. The rule here is about what is ‘intended’ for the casual observer of the sign to see – not the fine print. Any such numbers should NOT be included in solutions, and can be hapilly ignored.
    2> Fractions: we long ago decided (though I never voted on it) that all fractions and decimals are OUT. Think time related numerals should have a specific rule: either 8:45 is considered an 8 and a 45 (as in the way this sign was used), or it should be thought of as 8.75 hrs, and NOT allowed. 9:00 would be ok to use as a ‘9′. Actually, I think I prefer to have it used as this sign was used, as two distinct numbers, but we should have a vote or a decision or both. (long ago I had a sign rejected on this point, and I am still clutching on to that miffed feeling!)

  • 4 Bob // Dec 27, 2007 at 9:57 pm

    FWIW, what I submitted and what is published above are not the same. I did not submit fractions or decimals. Some of the above text is not mine either.

    What I submitted can be seen here.

  • 5 Bob // Dec 27, 2007 at 10:02 pm

    Actually, that is what I submitted. My apologies. What you see as fractions are division problems. Six of one, half dozen of another.

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