The Viral Balloon Puzzle - The REAL Answer Explained (Using Ph.D. Level Math)

[@MindYourDecisions]

This is now the most watched video on KZbin featuring the Lambert W function, and also introducing many people to Knuth's up-arrow notation. And yet the math meanies never praise or share my videos! Math negativity is a huge reason why so many people dislike studying math...(more details below) People often send me puzzles they see on social media. They love these videos because learning how to solve them helps builds their confidence in math. The few negative comments must come from people who don't actually watch the videos--nearly everyone who watches them praises them very highly (100+ million views, Shorty Award nominee, praise from famous mathematicians, citations in books/papers/courses, frequent media mentions, positive reviews to my many books, etc.). Take it from me: don't listen to the confidence crushers/math meanies/dream destroyers! Everyone agrees negativity is hurting math education, so we need to be extra positive to cancel them out!

[@gamefacierglitches]

MindYourDecisions the green balloons have different string lenghts. How would that change the answer? Im still in high school so i dont know anything about the Lambert stuff.

[@DestinyIsDecided]

Mr. Presh Talwalkar, the arrows for the balloons are not the same length. So the puzzle still has deeper meaning to it, which might further change the answer. P.S. Love your videos.

[@br7078]

We need positivity to cancel out the negativity? I thought it was the opposite. We need negativity to cancel out the negativity. + - = - Whereas - - = +

[@MumboJ]

Depends if your adding or multiplying. -1+1=0 -1-1=-2

[@michaeledwards2251]

Why not interpret the relative positions of the balloons as a slope. The line through the green balloons has a negative slope. This gives the interpretation the value of a single green balloon is -2. This gives an answer of -19. Remember most puzzles are meant to solved in your head without reference to external sources.

[@iBlu-qo9mg]

Him : Don’t say I’m overthinking it. Me : You’re overthinking it.

[@classicdoctors2531]

He’s basically trying to find the Easter egg the creator of this problem was trying to hint at, if you listened.

[@jeffcarey3045]

@@classicdoctors2531 He invented his own easter egg.

[@alfabet_1-2-33]

Interpretation of the Bible be like

[@raptorwithwings]

Hell, I thought the arrows were strings and the little nub on the end of a balloon when you tie it in a knot.

[@al3xm1lner]

Ok so were gonna do a over the power of a plus the power of a over n (bruh, i done 4 / 2)

[@angrycupofjoe8675]

Who else did the math, before watching the video?

[@astralblob]

angry cup of joe me

[@JeremySmith-ve2ur]

Its compulsive to do it that way for anyone who's familiar with the buzzfeed teir presentation style of this channel.

[@welshsteve2009]

I did. I got 21 and was so proud of myself until I realised I had missed the darn arrows. I failed dramatically! Lol

[@Barbie21]

@@welshsteve2009 i also got 21

[@nektus1667]

Me

[@MasterTMO]

Okay, I appreciate your assertion that you have to use *ALL* the data available to find the right answer, but *if* the direction of the balloons and the up arrow strings is significant to solving the answer, then you *MUST* take into account that the string of one of the green balloons is shorter than every other string shown. That must factor into solving the problem somehow. Otherwise you're saying minor differences in the graphics are immaterial, up to and probably including, the direction of the balloons themselves.

[@corieolausen2105]

That's funny, I was thinking the same...I imagine his balloon on top of his neck has popped by now if he attempted to factor that recognizable anomaly into the equation!

[@paulrandig]

@@corieolausen2105 If you are so into details - why not include the RGB value of the balloons' colour? Since a balloon is not a mathematical unit, I have the right to interpret whatever I want into it.

[@rcglinski]

Completely agree. And a possible interpretation is that it's half of green since the tail is half as long.

[@daviomusicozuero151]

It would be 26 if talking the length of the string into consideration (shorter string balloon = half string of one green balloon), without considering the direction and the up arrow strings.

[@daviomusicozuero151]

If you wish to see my methods answer the this comment.

[@kernwilson4603]

I'm with Master TMO. If you try to make significance out of the relative heights of the paired baloons, you must also give significance to the differing lengths of the strings. The best answer still looks like 21 to me.

[@Chris-hf2sl]

I agree. I think that the second interpretation in the video is rubbish. As you point out, the strings have different lengths (but only for the green balloons), so basing your answer on that observation is just as valid an approach, though I've no idea what you could do with such information. I also noted that the pairs of green and blue balloons overlap, so the visible area in both cases of each pair is less than twice the visible area of a single balloon. Maybe one should take that into account too. And should we be interpreting the +, - and x signs in their usual manner? Different branches of mathematics interpret them differently, so which interpretation are we supposed to use here? Finally, and most importantly, what about the double question mark on the final line? Is this just sloppy presentation (bad English or poor drawing)? If so, then the string lengths, balloon positions etc. have no meaning, so tetration is out. Alternatively, does the double question mark imply a two digit answer. If so, again, tetration is out. So either way, the tetration approach is wrong, unless you can think of another interpretation for a double question mark. No. None of these ideas, including the tetration one make any sense, so I agree with you that the simple approach, that leads to 21 is correct. As my Father always used to tell me, when there are several possible answers to a question, the simplest one is nearly always the correct one.

[@ballzack1747]

Kid : why is dad taking so long buying a baloon Dad :

[@cousin._.nxiety4073]

Why isn't this comment on the top?

[@Raushan070]

Underrated comment

[@daj8504]

best comment ever lol

[@EthicalMarxist]

22

[@villagersupremacy5594]

I’m the 500th like but someone’s gonna unlike since I replied this on the comment

[@ianang8977]

when you’re too toxic because your friend said answer was 21 and you said some other answer and you pin point every small detail to say he’s wrong...

[@confusionkale]

Me: **gets 21** Answer: **21.56** Me: _I _*_totally_*_ rounded my answer down._

[@iconic410]

Well you should actually round it up due to simple "rounding rules"

[@complexgamer947]

@@iconic410 Let's give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he meant truncated ;)

[@charlescabage730]

But rounded up version is 22

[@gregheffeley4922]

Nah bro you mean you took the floor of the answer ☺

[@ladynoirofficial9893]

@confusion kale 😅 same here

[@peterlewis2178]

This has so many acceptable answers, depending on the rules you apply. For example, I read the double balloons as being x^2 instead of 2x (or the really advanced version you showed that I don't understand). So the end answer for me was 20 + square root of 2. You also could have paid attention to the fact that the green balloons have two different lengths for the arrows, deduced that they're actually two separate values, and then used a proportion and the measurement of the lengths to figure out those individual values. And that information could have also been used for all three methods of solving it (addition, multiplication, and the method you did).

[@deusexmaximum8930]

What about the strings being different lengths between the green and blue pairs?

[@Kuichio]

I thought the same thing when he said "Let's use all the graphic info." Then he didn't.

[@schrottproductions8782]

"the real answer should encapsulate all of the visual details" but then he just ignored it and it bugged me the whole video

[@ThePolulos]

ikr lmao

[@TheKayarProductions]

@@schrottproductions8782 waste of time, i thought the same when he said that. There goes our 9 minutes down the drain with no answers

[@sparkyjones560]

Factoring in the length of the arrows, the answer is 48. You're welcome.

[@yeetle9859]

*Can we just say it's 21 and leave it at that?*

[@denk-plays2700]

On this channel no

[@pedroocm]

Nope, this answer is too easy, and they say you gotta be a genius to solve, so 21.56 must be the real answer

[@kanva4]

@@pedroocm Aprox 21.56 that is

[@anand.suralkar]

Or we can solve this equation in complex dimentions also to get even more accurate answer

[@gooblio]

I only have a M.Sc. so I got 21 and an IQ of only 160. I seen it and said," nay too much work 21 is close enough. "

[@hopeislife1846]

He is a master when it comes to overthinking simple problems

[@EnerJetix]

Lol yes

[@Mike14264]

Why is he thinking of the strings as arrows? They're strings!

[@RangerCaptain11A]

@@Mike14264 if the strings are not strings, then the balloons are not balloons

[@Mike14264]

@@RangerCaptain11A and the knots are not knots.

[@RangerCaptain11A]

@@Mike14264 they are knots^knot power

[@JordzXD]

Its interesting because if you do regular order of operations the 'easy' way, the answer is 21, or if you do it left to right, not using order of operations its 22. So thats why i think its super interesting that with this more complex answer you basically get 21.5

[@pumpkin095]

Ugh what?

[@fromallsides]

I follow you bro!

[@we4r119]

Yes, I'm no mathematician, didn’t know or had forgotten the order of operation and got 22. I was satisfied with my answer. 😂😂😂

[@gbhxu]

@@we4r119 22 here too. For me to have got 21 the sum should have looked like 1+(10x2)

[@allen25450]

4:05 is where 99% of people understand that 21 was the answer and are fine with that.

[@MiguelSucksAtUrbanism]

Wat, I got 22

[@snap-off5383]

@@MiguelSucksAtUrbanism order of operations. multiply 10 by two FIRST, then add one. Multiplication happens before addition, even if its not the left most operation.

[@MiguelSucksAtUrbanism]

@@snap-off5383already oticed, sorry

[@lakshyatomar11a79]

Oh okay But I got plus minus (40 + √14) as my answer. *a very long sigh*

[@tb2324]

Exactly. Figuring out a problem like that in the real world, on a job site, you’d be laughed at for wasting the company’s time by bragging all the high level math you know, then made fun of when everyone else says it’s 21.

[@AuxenceF]

0:24 obviously these are s and p atomic orbitals, so red = 2 electrons double green = 6 electrons double blue = 6 electrons then there is a trick, the p orbital are vieved from face but are still there so in the last line, we get 6 + 2 * 6 = 18, which allow us to fill our valence shell and get stable argon.

[@prometheusmusic4559]

great solution)))

[@desertmaker]

I thought I was the only one who got 18 for a minute 8)

[@mangalpandey1303]

When your favourite subject is chemistry but you are in maths class..

[@entropy8902]

How is 2+2+2=30?

[@peterclark6290]

I dislike Maths (not Arithmetic) because it is trying too hard to be super-important. Hence it will try to be overly-complicated. It is quite prepared to be dishonest in this quest. E.g. It will invent and use 'i', an imaginary number, to solve non-problems. It persists with Set theory nearly a century after Ramsey et al demonstrated it has no validity. It invests the zero (the abstract statement of nothingness) with real world powers, as in m° = 1, however zero began its life as a marker to indicate this column has no members, which was extremely useful, a time-saver. Ergo mº = m as it should be. Maths and Arithmetic try to manipulate *abstract copies* of reality however it can only operate on the lower order properties of those objects. e.g. An apple is whole, it is red, it has mass and volume but the Apple is infinitely (and fascinatingly) more complicated than what Maths can resolve. Restore sanity to Maths and a whole raft of idiotic conclusions will also disappear taking with it Black Holes, Multiverses, Wormholes, Dark Matter and Reversing time. The damage to Science is immense; as only it can claim to be mankind's most important development, a gift that keeps on giving - and Maths is jealous. Finally the answer is 21. Those 'arrows' are graphical representations of the balloons opening tied with a piece of string - IOW they're not balls with arrows.

[@DeerRyNa]

Normal people: *does the simple math equation and gets 21* Him: *does all the complicated equation to get 21.56* Me: *still thinks the answer is 21 because intact objects cannot exist partially and cannot be rounded up as there are parts that are literally unexistent*

[@Mycatsmeow2]

@TOMÁS SOUSA AZOUGADO Green is 2, blue is 1, per balloon. You're correct about red, though.

[@arah8998]

But the puzzle isn't asking you to count the balloons. If that's the case, then 1 blue balloon + 1 red balloon * 1 green balloon = 2 total balloons. Each balloons have their own values according to their colour and string length. So it's totally fine if the answer is a decimal

[@negokimolo3116]

notice @ARAH that there is no longer string but the the one balloon is placed abit higher than the other only thus making the one balloon string appear longer than the other meanwhile in actual fact they're the exact same lenght making Ryan's theory of inexistent balloon particles that are a results of rounded off really true

[@fatimabatool9171]

Btw 21.56 is rounded up to 22 so ya

[@janami-dharmam]

@@arah8998 You can add or subtract balloons but how to multiply or divide (the decimal answer implies division) balloons?

[@victoriaa.993]

I like how you have a different approach to these problems. Personally, I would have interpreted the opposite orientation of the blue and green balloons as an alternate visual distinction for students who are colourblind.

[@dasvenson765]

This is the real answer

[@Prismatic_Truth]

But then surely the final equation would be completely indecipherable to the colorblind, rendering the prior visual distinction pointless.

[@justintime2026]

That was the most condescending "did you figure it out?" I've ever heard in my life

[@GadBoDag]

You dummies... It's not condescending, and it's not "low-key" anything. It's high-key ridiculous on purpose. The whole video is tongue-in-cheek. It's a joke. He's taking the piss.

[@spartankongcountry6799]

@@GadBoDag For real.

[@DarthTalon5]

@@GadBoDag Someone can simultaneously be taking the piss whilst also being a pretentious prick, both can be true.

[@ajnabidhakal355]

I got 21 with simple algebra bro. Are u trying to make us mad?

[@SHYAMSAIROYAL]

I accept your answer s that is correct

[@Samuel-th6fw]

Yes it is acceptable but it doesn't take a genius

[@classicdoctors2531]

He said in the video that the problem states that you need to be a genius, to truly solve this. Therefore, the original creator of this problem probably had a hidden answer like an Easter egg in a game.

[@billoddy5637]

He’s trying to make us click

[@fluffdiamond9518]

Wdym? It’s 42

[@oceanz8892]

We better count the pixels for each balloon and differentiate those pixels by their brightness as well. Besides, the 2 balloons in the same color has overlays and that must be indicating some hidden information too.

[@hia5623]

Epic

[@mozart.108]

😂😂😂

[@irenegold3969]

LOL! Yes also mind the angle when the light hits them...Not to mention that green is a combination of blue and yellow...how much blue? Thank you for the laugh Ocean Z

[@lukeolinger6000]

Don't forget that the string length on the green balloons aren't equal.

[@irenegold3969]

@@lukeolinger6000 Thank you I almost missed that LOL

[@SalmonLamborghini]

You bring up the differences in ballon appearance as a part of the puzzle, which makes me ask, what are the values of the balloons supposed to represent? Mass? Volume? Helium? Knowing the answer to my question would allow me to determine if anything you say actually matters.

[@SeventhSaucer]

“I believe this is the real answer to this puzzle.” No. The pairs of balloons could have been interpreted lots of different ways. Since they they are overlapping, perhaps they’re “really” Venn diagrams.

[@gadlicht4627]

My answer: system not well defined since thier lots of interpretation so anything goes

[@VolksdeutscheSS]

Dude--you must be joking. Venn-diagram interpretation is a stretch.

[@justanotherweirdo11]

@@VolksdeutscheSS And this video isn't a stretch.

[@xoxb2]

I don't remember him addressing the fact that the green arrows are different lengths, while the red and blue ones are not. I accept that he's stretching this too far, when really the trick is about what order do you do the operations in the last line(I got it wrong, and made 22!), but if we are looking for visual clues to varying values or functions, surely the arrow length would be part of it?

[@omnikar5]

seventh saucer yeah like what if the values are based on the balloons supposed volume so 2 overlapping balloons have less volume than 2 separate balloons

[@Smouv]

Didn't take into account the varying lengths of the 'arrows' under the balloons though 👀

[@TallGeeese23]

I thought the same thing. If we’re over thinking this, arrow length should also come into consideration.

[@troyterry6919]

@@TallGeeese23 If the arrow length meant a different value, then the short green should be 1 and the long green should be 2. Meaning the final answer should be 31 instead of 21.

[@YONVS]

Troy Terry 31 would have been my answer to

[@ser55555]

@@troyterry6919 Why should the long one be equal to 2 and the short one be equal to 1?

[@znox_x6165]

@@troyterry6919 long one should be 3 bcoz 2 green balloons equal to 4

[@pupycron]

"Can I copy your homework?" "Sure, just change it a little bit so it won't be too obvious..."

[@NikeAirJordans]

a baked potato I don’t get it

[@bubblebubble1528]

ILike YellowSnow sane here

[@kush9842]

@@bubblebubble1528 the guy changed the answer by overcomplicating it.

[@akebengtsson1223]

Kush Nah he just assumed it had to be a harder solution than the simple maths needed to get 21.

[@Jackler]

This is going to confuse some people, but at first I instantly got 21, but then as you were putting all the balloons side by side (around 1:55) I changed my answer to 31, and I'll explain why As we have already got both green balloons as 2's and both blue ballons as 1's, I noticed one of the green balloons has a shorter string compared to every other balloon in the entire screen so I changed the green balloons to: longer string 3, shorter string 1 (It still comes out as 4, but it fixes the problem with the string as every other balloon has the exact same amount of string, even in the final equation) so it would turn into 1 + 10 x 3 (longer string)

[@retroman2645]

but you cant just assume that one is 3 and the other 1 the true answer we cant answer think of it as mathematically one is "a" and the other "b" they can be anything as long as a+b is 4 they can be 4 and 0 they can also be 2 and 2

[@Jackler]

@@retroman2645 Both the blue balloons have a longer string but still has one of them lower than the other so it's a fact that the green is 3 and 1.

[@retroman2645]

@@Jackler this has nothing to do with the blue balloons just because a =1 and b = 2 you cant just say it is that way and say c = 3 it doesnt matter what value other variables have each variable is independent

[@Jackler]

@@retroman2645 I'm not going to argue about this, this comment was a year ago, I don't care what you think it is, what I've stated is factual, not worth my time, and frankly, likely not worth yours either.

[@albingrahn5576]

My personal solution to this problem is based on the game Bloons Tower Defense, a game where you buy monkeys to help you pop waves of balloons, increasing your score and in-game money to buy more monkeys as the game gets increasingly more difficult. In BTD, if you pop a green balloon, it becomes blue. If you pop a blue balloon, it becomes red and if you pop a red balloon it disappears. This indicates that the red balloon in the equation always represents 1, blue is 2 and green is of a value of 3. Hence, with that information, we can conclude that the first two statements of the problem are simply false, and the answer to the question is 5 (2 + 1 * 3 = 5). There are probably a million different approaches to this problem but I find mine the most believable and most likely the intended solution.

[@silverdragon2462]

when u play too many video games

[@martonnemeth236]

OMG That is absolutely genius! You're right, bro.

[@jamesramirez0408]

But there are 2 blue balloons when you pop a green balloon, and 1 red balloon inside a blue balloon, so inside a green balloon are 4 red balloons, but in your information, there are 1 balloon from 1 green balloon, so the right answer is 1+4*2 and the answer is 9... :)

[@timothydemann4689]

@@jamesramirez0408 only whites/blacks and higher sprout multiple bloons... Pink or less only goes down a color.

[@decurry2766]

BTD battles is teh best bloons

[@Eri_Ya]

Damn, he literally just taking "If there's a harder way, then why choose the easier one?" Way too far.

[@villagersupremacy5594]

Facts

[@ralfsteiner7751]

He chose the simplest and the most complicated ones. The obvious solution though is 31. The two green balloons have different string lengths. If they sum up to 4, one is 3 the other 1. In the last equation the longer string green balloon is used (3). Do the math and the result is 31.

[@tjseagrove]

Different ways to approach a problem stretches the mind. The world does not lay out the problems in a logical manner and working through from a different perspective teaches the brain to think and not just to follow a formula.

[@vivianm1851]

I mean I think it isn't wrong to point out that there could be many answers given the ambiguity of the "problem" it would be as easy as saying 3a=30 a+2b=18 c-b=2 C+a*B=? technically C and B are only mentioned in the final question and thus the answer is actually not enough information, but we assume F(C)=2c and F(B)=2b but we never are actually told that in any concrete way.

[@theonewiththeeyeoftruth884]

@@ralfsteiner7751 Works (a little) if you choose to go that route. 21 is another correct answer.

[@carlandrecalingasan9463]

This guy is the type of dude to use algebra and geometry to solve a simple arithmetic puzzle such as 1 + 1

[@namelastnamefirst4520]

Well dude, 2 is TOO easy of a solution (haha) so here is a more advanced way of solving it. Step 1: 1+1=x Step 2: 1=x-1 Step 3: 1^2=(x-1)^2 so basically it's 1=(x-1)(x-1) Step 4: 1=x^2-2x+1 Step 5: 0=x^2-2x+0 Step 6: (−(−2)±√(−2)^2−4(1)(0)/2(1))=x Step 7: x=(2±2)/2 Step 8: x=2, 0 Therefore, 1+1 also equals 0.

[@Ayanokiyo]

@@namelastnamefirst4520 lmao😂

[@badrobot3159]

Google Bertrand Russell. He wrote an equation to prove 1+1=2

[@mathskafunda4383]

@@badrobot3159 Damn. How's that even possible!

[@alexanderbolton]

@@namelastnamefirst4520 no its 11

[@DanielSalais-fl1js]

Presh, my name is Daniel. I'm a big fan of your channel. When I do have some free time, I make it a point to watch a few of your videos. I must say that I'm more than singularly impressed with your problem solving ability. You know,, in the past, I thought that I was a math sage of sorts. But you sir are truly gifted. How can I learn more about the Lambert function?

[@paulbook6034]

I think a reasonable assumption would be those 'arrows' are just knots in the balloons tie with a string.

[@Tfin]

A reasonable assumption would be that if GreenGreen + GreenGreen was Green + Green + Green + Green, it would have been written as such, or as GreenGreenGreenGreen. Therefore there must be some significance to the grouping.

[@oxey_]

R3Testa GreenGreenGreenGreen would be Green^4

[@JAYTEEAU]

+Paul Book Agreed 100%

[@EmilMacko]

R3Testa Yeah, maybe that significance was merely to confuse people. Isn't that also a reasonable assumption?

[@Tfin]

No, because the simpler art of this one makes the count of balloons clear, as opposed to earlier iterations that featured things like bunches of bananas with either 3 or 4 in the bunch. The only place this one, AS INTENDED, can confuse people is in the PEMDAS.

[@mchlsalas]

"The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple." -Albert Einstein

[@christianfigueroa2850]

He did the opposite lol

[@seba2758]

Yeah like hid did the opposite

[@genghis3781]

Amen brother

[@geekygamer3954]

Actually he made it more simple.

[@geekygamer3954]

I understand it completely! Black hole physics makes perfect sense!

[@gdal6961]

Me:It’s 21! “Clicks on video” *myself has left the chat*

[@Toskrr]

GD Al = I also got 21, and this genius is overthinking it.

[@DarthTalon5]

@@Toskrr "Genius"

[@vk4289]

Definition of a genius is not someone who has learnt more or knows more stuff. It’s about logical thinking. So just because they’ve mentioned “only geniuses can solve this” doesn’t mean “only people who know advanced mathematics can solve this”

[@godsdemons2421]

Actually, a TRUE genius, would realize that the balloons were buy one get one free, and that the arrows are just the knots the balloons are tied in. This results in 2 green balloons being 4, but also one green balloon is 4 as well. 2 blue balloons are 2, and 1 is as well. So the REAL answer is 42. Checkmate walker.

[@egillandersson1780]

Yes ! Everyone knows that 42 is THE answer ;-)

[@nexio8324]

Actually, the final value is 0 because it's free balloon day

[@Ddotkay]

Get REKT Presh!

[@dickurkel6910]

@@Ddotkay yeah, get rekt preshtawalakelar

[@yooniverse1882]

Trueeee

[@jedidethfreak]

>"don't tell me to not overthink the problem" >proceeds to overthink what a meme is in order to make an argument that he's not overthinking it, while also literally ignoring the fact that a balloon has a knot

[@hesterroemersma9896]

The narrator is going to overthink your comment and say that there is no knot visible, just the flap of the balloon. Sorry I had to 😛

[@Continuum2077]

The colored balloons are simply a visual representation of a set quantity. Therefore, if you want to be detail oriented with this problem you cannot equate the pair of green balloons to x left-superscript of x at 3:50. This is because the green balloons are not visually identical. Unlike the blue balloons, the 'arrows' under the green balloons are of different lengths, which makes each green balloon unequal in value.

[@wolfVFV]

So You say The answer is Not a single number?

[@Continuum2077]

If you take into account the visual details of each balloon when trying to solve this problem, then there are many valid answers. Therefore, I do not believe the problem was meant to be solved this way. I believe the problem is as straightforward as it seems and the answer is simply 21.

[@wolfVFV]

They are Infinite many answers if You Take the Arrow length into Account 2= y^y^y... For ANY number of y is solvable (i think) So "Green ballon normal Arrow" = [1,inf)

[@ubern3rd]

I would like to add to this. It could be considered overthinking the problem. When you tie up a balloon, you have a cone, which in 2d notation could be a triangle or a circle. Since we're looking at the balloon from the side and not the opening, it would be a triange. It is just as reasonable to say that they are balloons tied by a string, likely. Also, when he references 'They' in the phrase, "They say it takes a genius to solve this", what 'They' is he referring to? The only thing that comes to my mind is other youtube videos where you don't have to be a genius, just attentive. I'm not putting down his solution at all though, it's clever and can be seen in that way. I personally just don't think that to be the case.

[@yvessioui2716]

To add a little rictus to your smile, why not take into account the colors, through their wavelenght or frequency? I agree with you about appearance that can be misinterpreted and only there as visual reference. Why not count the dots/square millimeter to assess 'a' number here.

[@runenorderhaug7646]

I liked your fun thinking. Though I eventually went for the 21 direction I originally was also thinking it was potentiolly gonna be a bit of a troll logic puzzle since technically only red is directily correlated. One could argue that there is just as much reasoning for blue to be 1 simply because that was the previous number in its connected supposed sequence for example or maybe blue represents something completely unconnected to what 2 blue represents. Even our assumption that 2 blue and 1 blue is something of a bias in puzzles like this

[@stevieboi3319]

"Any intelligent fool and make things big and complex, it takes a touch of genius and a touch of courage to go in the opposite direction" -Albert Einstein So technically, those who said 21 ARE the geniuses

[@tusharkantimalakar4848]

Exactly 👍 .... On the contrary Concept of being genius is not to make things complicated

[@tamadesthi156]

not necessary, the simplest answer is: can't be solved. We can't interpret the one blue ballon symbol as half as big as the symbol of two blue ballons, by this logic 1 would be interpreted as half as big as 11

[@NinjaRunningWild]

Can* but yes.

[@tervalas]

These kinds of questions go 'viral' because they say it takes a genius. Not that it really does. Because you'll still get people that will swear that the answer is 22.

[@justincoleman3805]

So because some people get it wrong means it doesn’t take a genius? Or that there are more than one wrong answer? Are you trying to say that you got 22 and still think you’re a genius?

[@Ghorda9]

@@justincoleman3805 the people who get it wrong are ones that didn't pay enough attention to the visual details.

[@YSFmemories]

but 21.56 rounds to 22

[@Ghorda9]

@@YSFmemories except that there is no decimal to begin with, this guy just overcomplicated it to the point of seeing things that's not even there.

[@YSFmemories]

@@Ghorda9 well, what is 3 divided by 4? There is no decimal to begin with in that equation.

[@mobilegameplaywalkthroughs990]

How to tell you are overthinking it: notice how many OTHER visual elements you didn't conclude were part of the puzzle. For example: - the hue, saturation and luminosity values of the balloon colours - the direction of the apparent light source causing the glow on the surface of the balloons - the ovular balloon shape - various aspects of the little triangle-shaped balloon necks (including position, point on the balloon's surface at which they "point", the angles of the corners, the side lengths) - various aspects of the string thickness (including length, slope, position) - the fact that the triangle-shaped neck is embedded deeper into the blue balloons than the red and green ones - ... etc.

[@EMLtheViewer]

I solved the puzzle based on the thumbnail (21, what a surprise /s), and as soon as I saw him taking the relative positions of the balloons to indicate exponents, I realized that this was a cheap trick and promptly rolled my eyes.

[@ahm911]

also arrow length

[@edgewatersbestguitarist1524]

Don't forget the helium density in the balloons too

[@EMLtheViewer]

@@edgewatersbestguitarist1524 And what if they contained hydrogen instead?

[@edgewatersbestguitarist1524]

@@EMLtheViewer lol then I guess we'd just have to forget about solving any probable equations and throw matches at the balloons for fun instead

[@friedeltreutlein7214]

You also could say, that the green balloons have different values, as in the blue pair, the strings on the bottom of the balloons have the same lenght while in the green pair they don't. You could also say, that the balloons in pairs have to be added, leaving the blue Balloons with value 1 and the green ones with infinitely many values. But I think this is just a mistake and should be discarded, as this would leave the equation with infinitely many solutions anyways.

[@awesomewrecker0]

Me 10 mins ago: 2:44 oh I was right, I even did it in my head.......why is there 6 mins left in the video

[@eminkilicaslan8945]

That sounds like 21 with extra steps.

[@nizardadda5523]

That sounds like slavery with extra steps

[@nikhilshenoy1555]

You mean 21.56

[@eminkilicaslan8945]

Idc, I study engineering

[@Erlisch1337]

technically 22

[@mrboombastic_69420]

@@nizardadda5523 why?

[@christoferribeiro9734]

Pi = 3,14 g = 9,81 This problem = 21

[@anamuslimah-7658]

No one in the world is perfect.

[@学习频道-e8z]

C=2.99×10⁸ e=1.9×10‐¹⁹

[@Vladon32]

Pi is not exactly 3,14.

[@twanplays4837]

@@Vladon32 same goes for g as g is An average on earth and not a constant numner

[@Vladon32]

TwanPlays yes, you’re right.

[@HarschSounds]

One more visual clue to complicate things: The length of the string is not the same for all balloons. If you incorporate THAT information, you can get yet another "correct" answer with high school level math. Red Balloon always has string length 'a;, Green has one balloon with string length 'b' and one string length 'c'; Blue has 2 balloons both with string length 'b' (same as Green in bottom line of original puzzle; Red is shorter ). In comparison, c

[@eomith759]

The definition of "well yes, but actually no"

[@rajaelrajon]

You did not take into account the length of the cords, the green balloons has differents lengths, that most mean something 😀

[@snap-off5383]

Yes those are vectors! Nothing is given in a problem unless it says it is given, or its given. Speculation isn't math.

[@ETBrooD]

​@@snap-off5383 If speculation isn't math (to which I'd agree), then it would be speculative to say that all ballons of the same color must share the same value. Likewise it would be speculative to say that all balloons of different colors must not share the same value. If you ignore certain differences but not others, then you're assuming that some differences matter while others don't. That would be speculation and therefore not math. Therefore it would be speculative to say that color matters but shape or position doesn't. One could say that this puzzle is unsolvable because there's nothing indicating that the same values must be assigned to the same visuals, or that different values must be assigned to different visuals. In fact one could go even further and claim that none of the balloons can be considered equal because their sequence could also effect their values. Nothing indicates that a different sequence would not mean a different value. So I'd argue the puzzle is in fact unsolvable using the available information.

[@snap-off5383]

@@ETBrooD I'm just going to say: Golf clap. First logical ass kicking I've received in a long time, although I will use the sad excuse of "wasn't trying hard". High five.

[@ETBrooD]

@@snap-off5383 Haha dw I'm not usually trying that hard either so I'll say it's a very valid excuse to protect my own ego as well :P

[@minethulhufhtagn7239]

Just watched this video and had the same observation. I also must admit the sub-positioning and super-positioning didn't occur to me, but I did get as far as wondering if balloons side by side indicated addition, multiplication or perhaps something else.

[@Kaixo]

There is something called "Overthinking" and I think you just did that...

[@MrTomkat030]

Yep

[@Holdegron3]

Kaixo did you watch the video at all? Go to the 3:30 ...

[@mikezhang2602]

Holdegron3 Presh is just bored and this is very likely a joke or a way to get views

[@kitararosha1011]

I had it solved within 15 seconds

[@donepudiaditya8236]

Yep

[@jemmerx]

This has been mentioned before but the green balloons have arrows of different lengths, and in the final equation, the longer arrow is used. Even more interesting though is that the red balloon has a shorter arrow than those of the the blue balloons and the longer of the green balloons (which are of equal length), but longer than the shorter green arrow. It is a bit of a stretch though to think that all these details are important, or any of the ones brought up here. There is really no reason to think that this isn't just a simple substitution puzzle. I think the aspect of this puzzle that requires "genius" is the order of operations and is likely what was expected to trip up would be solvers.

[@johnnyq1233]

You forgot to include the quantum equivalence of the volume in those baloons!

[@YuvrajSingh-yp5km]

We also have to include time-space continuum and account for string theory..

[@OganySupreme]

You also have to keep in mind the air density difference between the balloons, and the rotational and translational speed of the planet, the solar system, the Galaxy, and even the universe (in conjunction with the multiverse theory).

[@ManuSankaran2410]

And you also need to take the Coriolis effect into account.

[@OganySupreme]

@@ManuSankaran2410 What about Time Dilation?

[@EpicBananaGlasses]

This is the best passive aggressive comment about his way of solving this.

[@iamyoda7917]

*It is the 8th time for this type of puzzle on this channel.* There is a long and a short string for green balloons. How can a genius miss such an important visual clue?

[@broes]

WiseOldDude Exactly what I thought. His answer was just bs

[@chidinduuwaeziozi7360]

For sure! I have been tinkering on what that visual difference might be

[@kikydjokos]

WiseOldDude agree, i concern about the string length more than the balloons height position

[@jyotishree670]

exactly

[@daveofyorkshire301]

The best example of a mountain out of a mole hill I have ever seen...

[@rhmayer1]

Obviously, when we follow common sense. But that mole hill has crucial significance in some cases. An error of analysis like this could be the difference between life and death for an astronaut, for example. But I do think the narrator went too far in this instance. If the question truly was intended to include the Lambert function/etc. then I doubt it would have used balloon cartoons. It would've depicted some other, better, symbology.

[@piman9280]

..... or the Universe out of nothing!

[@teeemm9456]

@@rhmayer1 It's funny that you make a logical conclusion after saying it's common sense, thereby nullifying that it is common sense.

[@rhmayer1]

@@teeemm9456 You've misinterpreted my use of "common sense." My use of "common sense" was in reference to whether or not the question involved/required the use of the higher math solution presented in the video. I was arguing that common sense would dictate that the higher math solution was not necessary or implied to be required. Common sense suggests that pictures of balloon cartoons suggests simplicity. Complexity, denoting an implied requirement of higher math, would use a different symbology to portray the problem - something less ambiguous as balloons, where the "arrow" could easily (and IS) interpreted by most as strings to the balloons, with the arrowhead interpreted as the tied off bottom of the balloon. It is that arrowhead/tied off balloon that creates the ambiguity, and therefore since not specific in it's higher match symbology (which I would believe show a small space between the tip of the arrowhead and the bottom of the "balloon" to distinguish it as an arrowhead and not the string of the balloon) it is more appropriate to interpret the depiction with the "common sense" interpretation of balloons and strings rather than spheres with arrows. Perhaps more to your point, I don't think that common sense and logic are mutually exclusive. In fact, I think intuitive logic is used as the basis for common sense in perhaps many examples of common sense.

[@teeemm9456]

@@rhmayer1 Regardless, math is still a learned subject. Common sense is tired phrase we should probably remove from vernacular because it fails to represent actual meaning and is used mostly to attack. Common sense implies an assumed majority level of conformity for judgement or sense. It often gets confused for simple logic. I understand what you're saying but I still think it should be retired from use.

[@Vort_tm]

I came up with 41-10x for x=0-4 (and yes, I did this before watching the video) Rationale: The green strings were noticeably different length when the blue strings were conspicuously the same length under similar conditions. This lead me to treat the 2 Green as 2 separate values whose sum = 4, thus individually 4-x for x=0-4. Since the blue balloons were identical, I treated them as 2y, or 1+1, so my final evaluation of B + R * G1 was: 1 + 10 * (4-x) Note: This does take string length into account, but it does not take position into account as Presh did. Presh's method failing to accommodate for obvious string variations seems to fail to factor that the double green is (to my reckoning) 2 different values. I have no idea how to work with tetrations, but his only works when green is 2^2, which doesn't make as much sense when double blue has no problems holding string length constant.

[@RodBrites]

For this one I had a different approach... I noticed that the lengths of the strings in the pairs are different... so assuming we are working only with integer numbers, I could argue that the greens are 3 and 1 (based on each length) - notice that the other pair (blue) has same strings lenghts. As the final equation uses the one with the longe string, I would say the final answer could be: 31

[@ritviksharma4914]

Same. I noticed the arrows’ length difference and did the same thing too and got 31 as the answer

[@mrcrackhead1264]

@@ritviksharma4914 NOT arrows, strings

[@Uyhn26]

I had a similar approach, but I got stuck on when short stringed green balloon has same value as a blue balloon, not sure if that’s allowed. So I had no answer as there are no more info to specify exactly how the lengths indicate the values.

[@jppcasey]

@@Uyhn26 Good point.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

The red string is shorter than the long strings on the green and blue balloons. Surely that out to be taken into account too?

[@username17234]

You didn't take into account the length of the strings.

[@Toskrr]

Eduardo - Who are you talking to? And we don’t know the lengths of the strings, so why take it into account? This is silly.

[@blablq6472]

@Abu Mansaray So I'm not the only one noticed

[@knightsfyre]

By order of operations, the solution would be 21 [1+(10x2)] - If you ignore order of operations and apply straight left-to-right solving, it would be 22 [1 + 10 = 11, x 2 = 22] - If you apply "higher-level" mathematics with the Lambert W function, you arrive at a solution of ~21.56. Having two or more possible solutions implies some level of indeterminacy -- that we can't know with certainty that we are taking all possible variables into account. Therefore, it is best to apply all three solutions and establish that in this case, the answer is a range of results where any value between 21 and 22 may be correct. However, if we likewise apply the Occam's Razor principle (when presented with competing hypotheses about the same prediction, one should select the solution with the fewest assumptions -- basically, "the simplest solution is usually the best one"), you'd arrive at the simplest logical solution being that the answer is 21. Which is a fancy way of saying that if you came up with any answer other than 21, you're overthinking it. KISS.

[@skratnala9793]

Wow

[@Mail_Liam]

That is over thinking it

[@shreshthjaiswal1966]

Hypothesis for same prediction. Not for different predictions (21 and 21.56). It is not same as choose simplest explanation. It is choose simplest explanation if both explanation are for same result.

[@xXJ4FARGAMERXx]

@@shreshthjaiswal1966 yeah I was like "WHAT?! so you're telling me that you can just ignore a complicated answer based on your own biases of what complicated is??"

[@crizzonet]

21.56 rounded up is 22.

[@shokxtv4807]

i dont think anyone picked up but technically you can get -20 and -21 saying that the green balloon can be -2 and the blue balloon can be -1

[@distantpeopleperson]

Everytime you ask "did you figured it out" a little piece of my self-confidence disappears...

[@mohammedaminaissou2285]

😂😂😂

[@Rainbow_Neos1]

When my friends tell me I over complicate, I'm sending them here.

[@tomsterbg8130]

Math is not about overcomplicating, it's about accuracy

[@Rainbow_Neos1]

@@tomsterbg8130 The point I'm making is I solved this in a much simpler manner, and got an answer that 99.99% of the population would accept. My way took about a minute. 3 red = 30. 1 red is 10. 1 red plus 4 green = 18. 18 -10=8. 8 ÷ 4 green. 1 green=2. 2 green - 2 blue = 2. 2 green =4. 4-x=2 makes x=2. So 2 blue ballons is 2, so 1 is 1. Now do 1 + 10 × 2. You get 21. Anyone can do that. This guy over complicated it. It's almost laughable. It's like the one guy who overcomplicates unnecessary things by applying laws with big names all to impress people. He's the "Um, actually" meme taken to a whole new level. In what average world does 4 - 3.12 = 2? Lol.

[@-ClerzZ-]

@@Rainbow_Neos1 yeah, he tries to act smart, but his working out is completely incorrect. If you put three numbers in a place for each colour and each each equation is correct, then we are correct, not him.

[@EL-gz5tq]

@@Rainbow_Neos1 It's not 1.56×2 in his solution. He uses y^y so it is 1.56^1.56 and this is equal to 2

[@Rainbow_Neos1]

@@EL-gz5tq By that logic, each balloon does not have an equal value and is instead dependant upon the number there. That's ridiculous and not logical. One balloon is one balloon regardless of it there is another.

[@richtomek7968]

I imagine this guy being a cashier from the supermarket and getting fired asking the manager how you ring up a balloon to the power of another balloon

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

Yeah lol

[@Johnny.Fedora]

It depends. Would this be an actual supermarket in your school-free community, or would it be a theoretical supermarket in a grad-level quiz given to you at a university math department? Shouldn't you be watching cat videos?

[@Killswitchpulla]

you forgot to incorporate the wavelength of the color of the balloon as well as the area of the triangle on the arrow divided by the circumference of the balloon to the power of the length of the string that hangs from the balloon on a Wednesday during a full moon during the year of the tiger from the chinese calendar falling in a leap year

[@sarveshsingh8781]

I got 21

[@ks14793]

Unknown Gamer Thanks. Thought I was the only one!

[@rondox9787]

I must remind you that 11 x 2 is 22.

[@ks14793]

Vincent Amdjadi Multiplication happens before addition :)

[@nerdkernels3398]

Same

[@sarveshsingh8781]

Vincent Amdjadi nah

[@DocIdaho]

"they" also say "only 7 percent of people" can answer 2nd grade trivia.....

[@scepto43]

"99% can't solve this genius problem"

[@GoldenFreddy-py7kz]

@@scepto43 Mom: *Solves it in 0.0000002 seconds* Dad: *4 Hours and half to solve the puzzle*

[@mitccoo]

Judging by the most common answers to “intellectual” riddles like this one, I would assume the “genius” part merely refers to the mysterious Order Of Operations. This is seemingly a macabre rocket science theory many flat-earthers deny existing.

[@Goldenhawk583]

you mean the rocket science that claims that: In a vacuum, with no outside force active, if you are inside a tube, and push against the inside of the tube, the tube will move in the opposite direction of the push ?

[@oodogla]

@@Goldenhawk583 no, the tube would move in the same direction that you pushed

[@Goldenhawk583]

@@oodogla but in space, with no air, there is nothing to push against, and if you have nothing to push against, you aint going nowhere. there is also no air for the flames they show , so.. no flames possible.

[@deathcraftftw2924]

@@Goldenhawk583 i think theres a misunderstanding in your first comment, you said "inside of the tube" which i would think means your pushing the tube itself but what youre describing seems to imply you are simply moving in the space inside of the tube without touching the actual tube. (i havent actually heard of this whole moving thing before and just assumed based off context clues so i might be wrong)

[@Goldenhawk583]

@@deathcraftftw2924 My point is simply.. No matter how intense and powerful a blast out the backend of a rocket is designed to be.. If there is nothing ( like air), to feed the flames , it will not really make a blast. And if it is fed air in the tube and does blast.. if there is no air to push against EITH said blast.. the rocket wont move. Apprently they claim to make their own barrier inside the bast tupe, for tha blast to push against, to move the rocket.. which makes no sense at all.

[@morganjohansson2981]

He missed that the green baloons arrows has different lenght. Wrap your head around that genius.

[@mindynorris8034]

...

[@sfork1]

rap?

[@ArthurVerhulst]

therefore: 31

[@SigmaOfMyParts]

So 27+2/3

[@TheHallstead]

I was hoping he would mention the different length “strings”, but unfortunately he did not.

[@maxcovington273]

This isn’t a puzzle. This is a conspiracy theory. By doing systems of equations, the answers is clearly 21

[@Merigold83]

And that's half the truth…

[@xr55]

@@Merigold83 Nah.. half would be 10.5. 😂😂😂😂

[@AndrewAMartin]

@@xr55 no, 21 is half of 42, the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything...

[@BlacksmithTWD]

@@AndrewAMartin golden

[@Owen_loves_Butters]

@@AndrewAMartin How many peanuts are in my peanut jar?

[@RotationVII]

I got 21 before even clicking on it now lets see *close enough*

[@HDGUILLEN]

It is 21 your right

[@ajnabidhakal355]

Me too.

[@நக்மாசெல்]

I as well got 21. Mind calculation.

[@meschoui760]

@@HDGUILLEN it's 31. The second Green arrow is smaller. So we could say it's a 1.

[@structlightning]

Melch1Ball thats not an arrow lmfao. Thats a balloon tip and string

[@matttan6185]

I got 21.4142. I interpreted the pair of balloons as a multiplication of 2 numbers which I think is common in maths. In that case the single balloons are the square root (SQRT) of the value of the pair. Green is SQRT(4) = 2. Blue is SQRT(2) = 1.4142… Follow order of operations and answer is 21.4142.

[@elijahbierbrauer9866]

Same!

[@ScarletEmber64]

that's a really interesting take, and I definitely enjoyed listening to you explaining it, but those online "only geniuses can solve this" puzzles are usually pretty simple, so I still think it's just 21, but your answer is definitely also a possibility

[@crazycatlady39]

Yeah, they usually just say that ‘You have to be a genius’ as a challenge to get you to do their puzzles.

[@ridacaramia2616]

Few confusing facts about this theory.. 1. The answer for third statement where; 2(green balloon)-2(blue balloon)=2 2(2)-2(1.56)=4-3.12=0.88 not equal to 2 so either both blue balloons or both green balloons CANNOT have the same value to make his statement true..however both blue balloons have same length of rope citing equal value and he confidently state that green balloon=2 with his theory.. 2. He didn't count the long and short rope of the green balloon. IF his answer for the blue balloon is right,then the green balloons got to have different value each..how to calculate them then? 3. If both green balloons have different value,while blue balloons got same value both,then for the question,which green balloon did the question need and how to differentiate one over the other is we were shown only one of each balloon?

[@thomasp506]

It's true. The answer is 21 and that's the end of it. By "can you figure it out?" he really means "can you make it up?"

[@TotallyNotSena]

@@bob1117 Lol calling this good entertainment is pretty generous. i like math but this guy is literally just overthinking a simple problem for no apparent reason, at least for me that's frustrating.

[@salonii6345]

defo

[@TheHackersboss]

The green balloon pair is the only pair that appears more than once, and everytime it is arranged the same way, and therefore does not give us any affirmation that the arrangment matters. Therefore, the blue balloon pair being arranged differently could easily be just arbitrary. If it isn't arbitray, then kudos to you for spotting that detail!

[@savage1267]

3:48 I honestly thought you'd mention the "shorter string" on the right-side green balloon, compared to all the other balloons…

[@internetanalyst8166]

I've got a challenge for MYD: Find the answer of 1 + 1 = ?. keep in mind that you have to use all available information and details in order to solve this. And btw only a genius can solve this one :)

[@AyushSingh-ki2xt]

I want to try it So 1+1=x We can write this as: 1=x-1 We know the value of 1 which is x-1 So the next equation can be written like this: x-1+x-1=x This can be written like this: -1-1+x(1+1)=x -2+2x=x -2=x-2x -2=-x Remove the - and now we have the answer which is 2

[@xXxXx-----xXxXx]

Me: solves the puzzle before watching the video Video: shows "solution" at 2:45 and there are still 6 minutes left Me: okay time for a trip to hell

[@QoraxAudio]

Pairs of balloons without operators in between can also implicate a multiplication, meaning that green is the root of 4 (gives 2) and blue is the root of 2 (gives ~1.41) Which means you get ~21.41

[@hydrochloridrix]

Yes! That was my first answer, too. And 21 my second answer because I thought: nah, that’s too nerdy 🤓

[@phantomJK]

also what I was thinking

[@ktursts4088]

exactly

[@scmrecords]

How can i make a simple math problem complicated? MindYourdecisions: yes

[@lucacason1597]

Video summary: •3 red= 30 => 1 red= 10 •1 red and 4 green= 18 => 4 green=8 => 1 green= 2 • 2green- 2 blue=2 => 2 blue=2 => 1 blue=1 • blue+(red×green)= 1+(10×2)= 1+20= 21

[@majorneptunejr]

I thought he was going to comment on the green balloons not being the same. One has a short string .

[@WintryFox]

Me, too. Especially since the blue balloons have all the strings the same length.

[@kteideman]

And I.

[@ImaginarySpace]

Yeah, I guess there is one more trick that string is indicating. Don't know what though.

[@marke3013]

Yup, me too.

[@welcometohell3002]

WELL ACTUALLy, the original image uses an EQUaLS SIGN, no tildes involved! This implies an _exact_ number, of which you did not provide and instead opted to CHANGE the original equation to better fit your answer. 'Careful attention to all details in the puzzle', **LAUGHTER NOISES** ,,, cHECKMATE ATHIEsTS

[@zoeboy82]

welcome to hell Exactly can’t change symbols

[@sirmoonslosthismind]

@@zoeboy82 he's very clear that the "exact" answer is e^(W(ln 2)) + 20. it's just good manners to also provide a rational approximation of that irrational answer.

[@Stunningandbrave]

@@sirmoonslosthismind Does his green and blue equation equal 2?

[@glumbortango7182]

This is my favorite comment here

[@pm71241]

I hate this kind of exercises where the "trick" is to make assumptions about notation. ... whether reasonable or not.

[@snap-off5383]

Yeah its not math its speculation.

[@maysminecraft]

@@snap-off5383 not entirely, if you replace all the balloons with letters then you can see that notations is implied via the placement of the balloons. Algebra can be explained in a simplified way by saying "we replace the numbers we don't know with letters" if you substitute the word letters with balloons, then you can see how he got to the that conclusion. I got 21 but I am not a genius.

[@snap-off5383]

@@maysminecraft "if" my aunt had nads, she'd be my uncle.

[@zoe.h.nelson04]

Yeah but that's kinda how math is used in real life... Although it is annoying when they intentionally try to trick you

[@CharlesSmith-io9fp]

Seeing as how it's been 54 years since I graduated, I had forgotten a few details. Figuring out red, green and blue was pretty straight forward, we never studied that fancy stuff he shows. So red was ten, green was 2 and blue equaled 1. I added 1 + 10 to get ll x 2 = 22 then he says you do the multiplication first then add the 1 so 1 + 10 x 2 = 1 + 20 = 21. The way he did the math the answer is 21.56. Seeing as how I got 22 the first time and 21 the second time, I add them together then divide by 2 giving 21.5 . And that's close enough for government work. Case closed.

[@firstclaw1]

In fact I first thought he might interpret 3 balloons next to each other as being multiplied instead of added, so the single balloon would be sqrt of the double balloon. That solution with about 21.41 would be quite close to the interpretation of Presh.

[@palams7861]

“Close enough for government work”. Let’s be real: that’s TOO accurate for government work.

[@silversurfer8818]

The string length under the balloons could also carry some significance, the green balloons have two different string sizes, long and short - The long string can have the value of 3 and short being 1. Which still fits the 2nd row calculations (10+(3+1)+(3+1)= 18. Therefore by looking at the last row it would be 1+(10*3) = *31* Because the green balloon on the last equation has a long string, its worth 3.

[@TheGamerAdventurersX]

Silversurfer fair, good eye

[@wwoods66]

I saw this possibility. And I noticed the differing slopes, but while x^x had obvious meaning, x_x didn't (x[arrow][arrow]x _never_ would have occurred to me). If a problem can have so many valid answers, is it a good problem?

[@Koisheep]

What if the original intention was to cause a debate and not to write a well-defined problem

[@t-cc3377]

Silversurfer then, you should figure out a better way to assign weights. However, I agree that the length of the rope should be considered. Of course, it changes completely the problem.

[@raymondthebrotherofperryma1403]

Silversurfer ikr!

[@pedramk1]

If you going to the length of considering visual interpretation of arrows to involve W function, why not consider the difference in length of arrows? Could that also mean something?

[@SteamPunkLV]

😂

[@typo691]

how would you measure them though?

[@yvessioui2716]

counting pixels, measuring it in mm on the screen or on a printscreen...

[@yvessioui2716]

And why not take into account the wavelenght of the colors? I agree with you but I did put in this a little more than you only because that defines me, inquisitive and shitty.

[@Scorpionwacom]

3D-artist here. What if those arrows are vectors, and we should consider not just the velocity, but also the kinetic energy of each balloon!

[@elonmask50]

I’ll go with 21, because... When I hear hoof steps, think horses, not unicorns..

[@GRice999]

You're missing so much in life . . .

[@AnonymousApexio]

The answer is 21 cause 1 blue balloon is 1, one red balloon is 10 and one green balloon is 2 and since we know that the priority goes to the multiplication instead of the addition, it goes 10*2+1 which gives you 21.

[@AnonymousApexio]

And the thing is, a genius is someone with over 140 IQ right? I have 135, but this is like logical, I did it in less then 15 seconds, now I don't know how it would be from the perspective of someone with let's say 100 IQ right but I'm pretty sure that anyone that has learned normal math can do this.

[@STARDRIVE]

You want to know the meaning of life? The reason for everything? This is half the answer.

[@real_nosferatu]

Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy reference.

[@tishea3015]

😂😂

[@minichipper8216]

...and some change.

[@anujgupta3397]

I asked this puzzle from my family and then explained this solution to them Now I am homeless... Help

[@edmundworrell530]

You almost killed me from laughing.

[@romelgico2804]

21

[@ahmarsappal8244]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@prakharyadav1909]

You made my day 👍🏻❤️😂

[@mjt11860]

Lmao!

[@namelessminionveinreaver3763]

The "real answer" is that you cannot find a result with the information given. You're making the assumption, in either case, that there is a correlation between a pair of balloons and a single balloon of the same color. We cannot know that. The single blue and the single green are different variables. You failed to find this solution, so I guess your claim is true. Even if we WERE allowed to assume that the single balloons are one of the pair, which one? The pair of green balloons, if you were to take each, would be x+y=4. They are not identical, even in the picture where they are paired. One tail is longer than the other. Whatever you want to infer from that, we can't know for sure that the two balloons are identical. The final equation is X + 10 x Y = Z. Please stop pretending every logic problem can be solved with math.

[@williamhenry2176]

Excellent reply! Mr. MindYourDecisions seems to way overthink and make unproveable false assumptions about basic logic problems, but is very good at solving real problems that require no assumptions.

[@fox_power]

True, for all we know, the problem could be referring to the area of each balloon and pair of balloons ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@Firefly256]

Think of the pairs of balloons as 1 “thing”, calculate every pixel and the brightness, then you can find out 1 balloon = how much

[@noisix9825]

Is it possible you're making an presumption as well?... (don't make assumptions you'll eventually only make an ass out of yourself) We are given all the numbers logistically necessary to be able to solve this problem... The only reason you brought this up (with my inference as to how you worded your statement) is because he went into the whole ideal of being able to find a specific answer as to how this would work including all visual aspects of the problem... Why are you making the presumption that the balloon strings are never ending...? Literally you're just making yourself an out as to how you couldn't comprehend this equation by literally not even getting a total number...? Im not sure that's how math works bud, I'll admit there are questions out there that are math related that just cannot be solved because they do not provide enough information... Because I can tell you it certainly does you just gotta figure it out.

[@namelessminionveinreaver3763]

@@noisix9825 I've seen this style of logic problem before. Specifically there was one going around with an image of a ladder with a different number of rungs. There was a lot of debate about what that actually meant and multiple ways to "solve" it. We are given terms for each single balloon in this one but there's no indication that the symbols of pairs of balloons are intended to be two single balloons. In fact, if they were, it would be simpler to present them as 2x(Single Balloon)

[@tylamason6712]

I was able to get the answer subconsciously, I just instinctively rounded down

[@velvetunderground9835]

Me sees MindYourDecisions: WOOHOO Me 2 minutes into video: YES! THE ANSWERS 21! NAILED IT! Me 8 minutes and 51 seconds after start of video: 😳😭

[@PatNetherlander]

Me too exactly! And when he's going ballistic with them natural logs I usually go outside to start a fire with them...

[@greggreen5510]

🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😅

[@johnyjoe4259]

exactly. also, ur name should me MR Rubik's, thats the actual spelling

[@dawsonraynes5927]

@@johnyjoe4259 Dude, it’s a nickname. You don’t hear someone say, “my name is Jon,” and say that they mean John.

[@johnyjoe4259]

@@dawsonraynes5927 its not tho? its just incorrect spelling

[@gintarasj903]

1.If one takes notice of double question mark, it suggests the answer is integer between 10 and 99. 2.I myself just see thread tied to ballon, not an arrow. 3.Assigning integer values to ballons, the answer is 21.

[@davidcs7479]

This isn't Ph.D level math dude.

[@oscargr_]

David Cortés Servín. Depends what you got your PhD in ?!

[@sakurahikxri]

David Cortés Servín he’s making fun of the “only geniuses can solve”

[@ThePewPewLord]

true. freshmen in college majoring in math can solve this

[@aoe9857]

Have you watched the entire video?

[@harshitagoyal9835]

@@aoe9857 do you understand sarcasm?

[@talaleddie1]

If you are considering other possibilities then you should consider the possibility of the arrows of the balloons. For Green Balloons - Right balloon is lower than the left one and since we are determining the value here and not the mass, so we can consider the possibility of the left balloon has more value than the right one. Also, the arrow of the left balloon is quite similar to the diameter of the balloon, hence we can suggest here that the value of arrow and balloon is half to each other i.e Balloon(1) and Arrow(1), however the right balloon arrow is almost half in size to the left arrow i.e right arrow(0.5) in value and the remaining right balloon will have the value of 1. Now we have the value of 3.5 but considering two balloons and two arrows equals 4, then the remaining 0.5 value should be equally distributed between two green balloons and the left arrow since they have approximately same size. hence the value of one green balloon will be 1+0.1667=1.1667 and same goes to the left arrow 1.1667. Now, coming back to the question, Red Balloon is 10 Green Balloon is 2.3334 Blue Balloon is 1, then one of the possibility for the answer should be 1 + 10 x 2.3334 = 24.3334

[@mikeryan6277]

Damn, I had it all wrong. I thought that since all the balloons were ascending that they must be filled with a gas lighter than air and the arrows indicated Lift/Gravity and the different colors meant different gases so I have been trying to determine what those gases are based on the amount of lift generated by each balloon.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

My first thought too.

[@darcybrummett7004]

3:14 I see the “arrows” as strings with the tiny triangles being the part of the balloon that’s tied by the string.

[@maxyfry6295]

I'm pretty sure thats the point

[@dyollrepooh8477]

After looking at many comments and replies - I was pleased to finally find someone who saw the "arrows" just as I did Darcy - phew thanks (from a lowly 1978 A Grade A-level JMB school student)

[@jsusna1972]

Exactly what I saw as well. The fact that the strings and balloon portions resemble arrows is coincidence. Had they simply been balls instead of balloons, this would simply be one of those problems that trick people up who don't know the order of operations. One could always ask the person who proposed the problem if the strings were meant to be arrows. I have my doubts.

[@clarkeugene5727]

Sitting here enjoying my " coffee + peanut butter toast - my slippers x 57 pulse rate = everything is background noise after 3:30".

[@we4r119]

Your videos haven’t built my confidence. They have just left me confused and confirmed my ineptitude at math and physics.

[@pierregirardeau806]

I don't find any fun in trying to interpret every statement given in a puzzle. What I found fun is when the problem is very well stated and the rules are clear but when it is hard to find a solution. In this problem, you just try to find what everything means so there is a million possible answer and no one can say that any one solution is better than another because the rules are not clear.

[@mega1chiken6dancr9]

being scared of going too far in math will never help you in life

[@o.sunsfamily]

Lin Lin Towns That's not what he said. He criticized the diffuse nature of the problem. And this is really cryptography not maths because once you know what every symbol stands for there is no problem at all. And I would say there is a big difference between the two blue balloons who could be indeed x^x and the green balloon for its string is half the size. One could argue the other half got cut off for design reasons, but I don't like to use coincidence as an explanation.

[@rhysthurin6098]

That's a pretty high-level troll job right there.

[@jlittlenz]

Your method for solving y^y = 2 involves unusual (IMO) mathematics. That's ok, and interesting, this is a maths channel. But for huge numbers of people, I would suggest many more than know about the Lambert W function, using a spreadsheet is much simpler, more understandable, and quicker. Set A1 to 1.5, set A2 to =power(a1,a1) then goal seek for A2 = 2 varying A1. 1.55961046958442 quicker than I can type it.

[@themariogamer6812]

8:00 'Did you figure it out?' Me: 'Well, no, obviously!'😂