Ok, I feel like an idiot...

yoyoma · Post by **yoyoma** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 1:06 am

What is the exact equation to solve Kalah's first riddle? I've read on a couple of posts in the other forums how they boasted it was all easy (and it probably is for someone smarter than by diminuitive IQ) but no one would post how they solved when asked. Trivial thing but it's annoying the heck out of me, heh.

decadurabolin · Post by **decadurabolin** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 1:17 am

Just reply in a noble way.

Onyx · Post by **Onyx** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 1:59 am

Originally posted by yoyoma
What is the exact equation to solve Kalah's first riddle? I've read on a couple of posts in the other forums how they boasted it was all easy (and it probably is for someone smarter than by diminuitive IQ) but no one would post how they solved when asked. Trivial thing but it's annoying the heck out of me, heh.

spoiler!?!
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30 - 40(if i remember well)

Baldursgate Fan · Post by **Baldursgate Fan** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 2:02 am

Originally posted by yoyoma
What is the exact equation to solve Kalah's first riddle? I've read on a couple of posts in the other forums how they boasted it was all easy (and it probably is for someone smarter than by diminuitive IQ) but no one would post how they solved when asked. Trivial thing but it's annoying the heck out of me, heh.

@decadurabolin

I don't get what you are saying.

@Yoyoma

I assume you are talking about the mathematical genie at the bridge?

If so, the question is as follows:

“A princess is as old as the prince will be when the princess is twice as old as the prince was when the princess’ age was half the sum of their present ages…so what are the present ages of the prince and princess?”

Let:

x1 = her present age
y1 = his present age

Working out further:

x2 = her past age = (x1 + y1)/2
y2 = his past age
(i.e. when he’s y2, she’s (x1 + y1)/2)

x3 = her future age = 2y2
y3 = his future age
(i.e. when he’s y3, she’s twice his early age (y2))

z = their age difference, which doesn’t change = (x1 – y1) = (x2 – y2) = (x3 – y3)

Solution:

We need to end up with an equation that has only variables x1 and y1 in it, from which we can get a proportion of her present age to his present age, and then select the Genie’s answer that fits this proportion.

The Genie tells you that her present age is equal to his future age, or:

…x1 = y3

since z = x1 – y1

…z = y3 – y1 (call this equation #1)

since z = x3 – y3

…z = 2y2 – y3 (equation #2)

adding equations #1 and #2:

…2z = 2y2 – y1 (equation #3) (this gets rid of the y3 term)

since z = x2 – y2 = ((x1 + y1)/2) – y2

…2z = x1 + y1 – 2y2 (equation #4) (multiplied both sides by 2)

adding equations #3 and #4:

…4z = x1

since z = x1 – y1

…4(x1 – y1) = x1

…4x1 – 4y1 = x1

…3x1 = 4y1

…x1/y1 = 4/3 = the proportion of (her present age) divided by (his present age)

The only answer that the Genie offers that fits this proportion is the Princess presently being 40 and the Prince presently being 30.

Now you can fill in the other unknowns:

age difference = z = x1 – y1 = 40 – 30 = 10 years

her past age = x2 = (x1 + y1)/2 = (40 + 30)/2 = 35 years old

his past age = y2 = x2 – z = 35 – 10 = 25 years old

her future age = x3 = 2y2 = 2(25) = 50 years old

his future age = y3 = x3 – z = 50 – 10 = 40 years old

Hence, working out their present ages, the prince is 30 and the princess 40.

Welcome to GameBanshee.

Onyx · Post by **Onyx** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 2:05 am

YO Baldursgate Fan
Did you really work that out like that.
I thought most people just try each answer and keep reloading until the get it right, LOL

Baldursgate Fan · Post by **Baldursgate Fan** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 2:18 am

I got it wrong the first few times, stopped punting and took out pen and paper.

decadurabolin · Post by **decadurabolin** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 2:24 am

Sorry, mistook for the genie in irenicus dungeon.

Eerhardt · Post by **Eerhardt** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 2:38 am

The answer was in the SoA walkthrough (Circus Tent 1) as well.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 2:59 am

Re: Re: Ok, I feel like an idiot...

Originally posted by Onyx

spoiler!?!
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30 - 40(if i remember well)

You know what sceres me, i haven´t been in the circus tent for over a 1/2year and i still know the answer by memory.

Locke Da'averan · Post by **Locke Da'averan** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 3:22 am

damn BGFan you a math teacher or smth??? well that sure was more than difficult to get right on the first time, i failed and answered right on the second one, but i reloaded to see if you get more exp if you answer right to the first one and yep

i really like riddles, but not the one's that require equations and math

Baldursgate Fan · Post by **Baldursgate Fan** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 3:26 am

Originally posted by Locke Da'averan
damn BGFan you a math teacher or smth??? well that sure was more than difficult to get right on the first time, i failed and answered right on the second one, but i reloaded to see if you get more exp if you answer right to the first one and yep
i really like riddles, but not the one's that require equations and math

No sirree, my math teacher damn well kicked me out of the class very often. I am not cut out for math, that's why I solve riddles in BG2; for kicks!

Cheers.

Onyx · Post by **Onyx** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 3:27 am

Re: Re: Re: Ok, I feel like an idiot...

Originally posted by Stilgar

You know what sceres me, i haven´t been in the circus tent for over a 1/2year and i still know the answer by memory.

Same with me.

GNGSpam · Post by **GNGSpam** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 8:39 am

I just figured it out in my head, never used a forumla (first try too).

First of all, read the first sentence. Its easy to tell whose older then whom (cutting out half the answers) Then just start from the back and work your way to the front in figuring out the exact answer.

If you post the exact riddle ill tell you exactly how I figured it out

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 8:55 am

Originally posted by GNGSpam

If you post the exact riddle ill tell you exactly how I figured it out

Damn if you told me that 1hoour ago i would have given it to you.
Just pased the circus with my Kensai - soon to be dualed to thief

GNGSpam · Post by **GNGSpam** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 9:04 am

Unfourtantly I finished it last night in my new game too which is why I asked you. Oh well

yoyoma · Post by **yoyoma** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 9:28 am

RE:

I knew what the answer was by doing the save reload deal rather than solving it by equation. You don't have to be Sherlock to try the former.

Thanks BG Fan by the way. Simple friggin Algebra I'm horrid at.

Baldursgate Fan · Post by **Baldursgate Fan** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 10:55 am

Re: RE:

Originally posted by yoyoma
I knew what the answer was by doing the save reload deal rather than solving it by equation. You don't have to be Sherlock to try the former.

Thanks BG Fan by the way. Simple friggin Algebra I'm horrid at.

You are welcome.

Most of us take the easy way out one time or another.

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 12:26 pm

BGF Is their a one line equation?

Baldursgate Fan · Post by **Baldursgate Fan** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 12:37 pm

Originally posted by craig
BGF Is their a one line equation?

Afraid not, Craig. The closest I can get to a one-line equation is
…x1/y1 = 4/3 = the proportion of (her present age) divided by (his present age) which is actually the derivative of a few other equations with x, y and z variables, namely, his age, her age and the difference in their ages respectively.

Cheers.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Wed Apr 24, 2002 12:39 pm

Damn, never got further then Pythagoras