Today's random silly

[kiya]

Whitney says, "Okay. One more AV game and I'll be over halfway to my goal. That should do."
Whitney has won three and lost one today, and had two tokens. Needs twenty-five.
Whitney says, "This sounds like an algebra problem."
Whitney says, "'If one more game will put me over halfway to my goal no matter what the result, how many tokens do I get for wins and how many tokens do I get for losses'? :}"
Brooks [brooksmoses] says, "So, this means that you've currently got 12 or fewer, and you had two to start with, so you've gained ten or fewer, and your sum after the next game will be 11 or more."
Brooks says, "Thus. You get at least one per loss."
Brooks says, "Also, you get at least one per win."
Brooks says, "Supposing one per win, you must have at least ten now, which means seven per loss. Supposing two per win, you must have 9 or 10 now, meaning three or four per loss. Supposing three per win, that's nine, meaning one per loss. Supposing four per win yields no solutions."
Brooks says, "Making the additional assumption that you get fewer per loss than win, that gives you three per win and one per loss."
Whitney says, "That was awfully cute."
Brooks says, "Yes, but was it correct? :)"
Whitney says, "It was."
Whitney says, "I have twelve."
Whitney says, "Four on me and eight in the bank, but that's irrelevant to the problem. ;)"
Brooks says, "The only way you could not have twelve, given the problem statement, is if you get three per loss and two per win, which seems implausible. :)"

[...]

Whitney says, "And now three wins and a loss will be sufficient to make my goal."
Brooks says, "Congrats on your win!"

[...]

Whitney ponders.
Brooks says, "What do you ponder?"
Whitney says, "Either quoting the algebra problem exchange to LJ or writing a post about something I'm trying to figure out."
Brooks says, "I would be amused if you quoted the algebra exchange to LJ, since I was going to ask if I could quote it at [tiger_spot] but she went to bed before I could ask. :)"
Whitney says, "Then I will do so."
Brooks says, ":)"

Comments

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

::is duly amused::

[linenoise.livejournal.com]

I am also much amused.