A few weeks ago I posted a rather bizarre picture algebra maths puzzle. It was the Crustacean themed algebra maths puzzle which looked more like a joke than a real puzzle. However, there is a solution and this article will explain it.
If you have not had a go at solving the puzzle and registering your answer on the poll; Stop reading this solution, click on the link above and go do it now. 
The puzzle image is shown below:
And here is the solution:
- There are three crabs which total 30, so each crab is 10.
- A crab (10) and two lobsters total 20, so each lobster is 5.
- A lobster (5) and two prawns total 9, so each prawn is 2.
- The prawns are not in the final sum and can be ignored.
- The final sum has to be solved in components.
- The start of range of the integral is from lobster + lobster – crab = 5+5-10 = 0.
- The remaining crab on the numerator of the fraction can be substituted in as 10.
- Finally, the Japanese Spider Crab can be replaced with the algebraic variable x.
- So we have the integral from zero to infinity of 10 sin(x)/x.
- Now what?
While you are quite welcome to solve this yourself from first principles, but if you search on the internet you will find that this equation is based on a known mathematical problem which has a known solution. To save you time…
Because we have multiplied our equation by a crab (value 10) we have a solution of 5 x pi.
At the time of posting the solution, only 28% of respondents on the poll were correct. Did you get it right?
More Information
- Integral of sin(x)/x from 0 to infinity
- Video: Integral from 0 to Infinity sin(x)/x in 2 Minutes (Using the Laplace Transform)
Keep safe, well and sane.
David
This article was originally posted on http://www.winthropdc.com/blog.