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Is the "What is the middle number?" Question too confusing?

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Is the "Middle number" question too confusing?

Poll ended at 2009-12-04 19:56

Yes
7
41%
No
6
35%
3
4
24%
 
Total votes: 17

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Dynamo
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Is the "What is the middle number?" Question too confusing?

#1 Post by Dynamo »

During the registration there is a question "What is the middle Number?" Below it there is a line with "012345". After several failed attempts, the correct answer was 3. Can you please show me the logic?
Last edited by Mez on 2009-11-20 19:58, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Sticky time limit

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vrkalak
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Re: Confusing question in Registration Form

#2 Post by vrkalak »

Let's see . . . "0" is not considered to be a number.

Numbers are only 1 thru 9 . . . . hence, in the sequence 12345 ... 3 is the middle number. :mrgreen:

(basic algerbra or numerology) :P

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BioTube
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Re: Confusing question in Registration Form

#3 Post by BioTube »

It's based on the fact that bots won't likely try twice.
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thegrogfrog
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Re: Confusing question in Registration Form

#4 Post by thegrogfrog »

vrkalak wrote:Let's see . . . "0" is not considered to be a number.

Numbers are only 1 thru 9 . . . . hence, in the sequence 12345 ... 3 is the middle number. :mrgreen:

(basic algerbra or numerology) :P
From 012345 I would have guessed 23 as the middle number :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0_(number)

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oswaldkelso
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Re: Confusing question in Registration Form

#5 Post by oswaldkelso »

thegrogfrog wrote:
vrkalak wrote:Let's see . . . "0" is not considered to be a number.

Numbers are only 1 thru 9 . . . . hence, in the sequence 12345 ... 3 is the middle number. :mrgreen:

(basic algerbra or numerology) :P
From 012345 I would have guessed 23 as the middle number :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0_(number)
I would have guessed 1234 as the middle number :D If 0 is not a number what if the figures were 543210 or 560043 or 000000.
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Re: Confusing question in Registration Form

#6 Post by jollysnowman »

How is 0 not a number??? Or was the humor lost over the internet...

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Dynamo
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Re: Confusing question in Registration Form

#7 Post by Dynamo »

vrkalak wrote:Let's see . . . "0" is not considered to be a number.
Numbers are only 1 thru 9 . . . . hence, in the sequence 12345 ... 3 is the middle number. :mrgreen:
(basic algerbra or numerology) :P
You are kidding right? Here is a some similar questions I would like you to test your theory.

Q1. On a soccer field, there are 6 players lined up. Their jersey numbers are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Give the middle player.

Q2. On a soccer field, there is only ONE player. The jersey number is 012345, give the middle number.

Q3. A code bar is "00045000", give the middle number.

I can admit I am not a genius in maths, although I think I am above average. But I really didn't get the logic of the original question in the registration form. If it was a trick to get you read and answer to defeat bot then it's OK. I was just wondering what was the idea.

EDIT: and nobody came up with another possible solution? The middle of 12345 = 12345 / 2 = 6172.5

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Re: Confusing question in Registration Form

#8 Post by Jackiebrown »

You shouldn't have given the answer :)

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BioTube
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Re: Confusing question in Registration Form

#9 Post by BioTube »

As I said, it's not meant to be answered right on the first try, which is what makes it so effective.
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Re: Confusing question in Registration Form

#10 Post by ComputerBob »

At least it didn't say, "What is the standard deviation of these numbers..."

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icegood
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confusing quetion

#11 Post by icegood »

within registration process:
what is a middle number of (0 1 2 3 4 5)
after firstly confusing how to set 2.5 or 2,5 i.e. with which delimiter
i obtained:
Nubber should be not less 3
F*ck!

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Re: confusing quetion

#12 Post by roseway »

It's deliberately confusing, to confuse the spam bots.
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Mez
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Re: confusing quetion

#13 Post by Mez »

Is it TOO confusing is the question

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Re: confusing quetion

#14 Post by Mez »

I've added a poll to this thread

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Re: Is the "What is the middle number?" Question too confusing?

#15 Post by julian67 »

I wanted to vote but there wasn't an option for "not sure".
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Re: Is the "What is the middle number?" Question too confusing?

#16 Post by edbarx »

It violates logic. The median is definitely not 3.
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Re: Is the "What is the middle number?" Question too confusing?

#17 Post by Tadeas »

0+1+2+3+4+5=15
15/6=2.5
2.5 rounds to 3.
It seems pretty easy for me - and it requires human intelligence. Besides, as already stated, a human will try more times, whereas a bot probably won't.
Because let’s face it, the unfortunate aspect of software development is that it involves humans. Mewling, disorganized, miserably analog humans. Sometimes they smell bad.

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Re: Is the "What is the middle number?" Question too confusing?

#18 Post by Raffles10 »

edbarx wrote:It violates logic. The median is definitely not 3.
Correct. To work out the median: there are six numbers so (6+1)/2 = 3.5, so the median is the 3.5th number ? :?

There is no median. :mrgreen:

0 is a number. Sums of numbers are always numbers; 1 - 1 = 0. 0 isn't 0.9999* nor 0.1111* it has a definite value and is considered a number.
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Re: Is the "What is the middle number?" Question too confusing?

#19 Post by Raffles10 »

Tadeas wrote:0+1+2+3+4+5=15
15/6=2.5
2.5 rounds to 3.
It seems pretty easy for me - and it requires human intelligence. Besides, as already stated, a human will try more times, whereas a bot probably won't.
That isn't the median it's the mean. :wink:
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Re: Is the "What is the middle number?" Question too confusing?

#20 Post by Tadeas »

Raffles10 wrote:That isn't the median it's the mean. :wink:
The question is what's the middle number. And 3 is the closest as I proved above.
Because let’s face it, the unfortunate aspect of software development is that it involves humans. Mewling, disorganized, miserably analog humans. Sometimes they smell bad.

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