Answer to April 29, 2002 Problem
from A Haircut in Horsetown
by Click and Clack

The Peculiar Addition Problem

When does 2.1 + 4.2 + 3.0 + 3.2 = 13.2
and 13.2 is the correct answer to this addition problem?

Solution:

This is correct when the numbers represent the innings pitched in baseball. In baseball notation, 2.1 represents 2 and one-third innings.

Sorry! I know there will be some upset people. This week's problem is more mathematical!!
But several people sent in some good alternate solutions to last week's problem ... some tried different bases (base three worked on the right-hand side of the decimal point but not on the left); others used various conversion factors (two are mentioned below).

David Stark suggested the following:
2.1 Liters + 4.2 Liters + 3.0 Liters + 3.2 Liters = 13.2 Quarts
Using the conversion factor 1 liter = 1.056688 quarts,
12.5 liters = 12.5 * 1.056688 = 13.2086 quarts! Close enough!

Keith Mealy wrote:
2 drachm + 1 scruple
4 drachm + 2 scruples
3 drachm + 0 scruples
3 drachm + 2 scruples
--------------------
13 drachm + 2 scruples


Correctly solved by:

1. Walt Arrison Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2. Christopher March Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
3. David Stark Winchester, Virginia
4. Keith Mealy Cincinnati, Ohio
5. John Beasley Winchester, Virginia
6. Daniel Foster Winchester, Virginia
7. Tony Cahill Winchester, Virginia
8. Ashleigh Mark Columbus, Georgia
9. Geoff Keith Santa Monica, California
10. Drew Chapman Redondo Beach, California