Micro Challenge magazine...
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Micro Challenge magazine...
...did anyone here ever buy this?
And did anyone here ever win the colour TV?
(I can't even begin to understand the puzzle, let alone how to enter...)
And did anyone here ever win the colour TV?
(I can't even begin to understand the puzzle, let alone how to enter...)
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- Einar Saukas
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Re: Micro Challenge magazine...
Triangles with sides: 12x35, 20x21, 21x20 and 35x12
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Re: Micro Challenge magazine...
Here's a not very efficient solution in Sinclair BASIC, but that's probably what they expected at the time:
It takes ages to run!
Code: Select all
10 FOR M=1 TO 65535
20 LET N=0: LET X$=""
30 FOR A=1 TO M
40 LET B=INT (M/A): IF A*B=M THEN LET C=INT SQR (A*A+B*B+.1): IF A*A+B*B=C*C THEN LET N=N+1: LET X$=X$+STR$ (A)+"x"+STR$ (B)+CHR$ 13
50 NEXT A
60 IF N<3 THEN NEXT M
70 PRINT X$
Re: Micro Challenge magazine...
Hmm, that seems like cheating (plus it's 4, not a trio)...
I believe this is what they were looking for:
15,112,113
24,70,74
40,42,58
I believe this is what they were looking for:
15,112,113
24,70,74
40,42,58
- Einar Saukas
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Re: Micro Challenge magazine...
Perhaps that's what they meant, but not what they wrote!
Triangles 12x35 and 35x12 are not identical. They are different, although one is the mirror version of the other.
Re: Micro Challenge magazine...
We'll see who wins the TV!
Anyway, here's a modified version of your program that finds the triplet:
Anyway, here's a modified version of your program that finds the triplet:
Code: Select all
10 FOR m=1 TO 65535
20 LET n=0: LET rm=SQR (m): PRINT AT 0,0;"Area:";m
30 FOR a=1 TO rm
40 LET b=INT (m/a): IF a*b=m THEN LET c=INT SQR (a*a+b*b+.1): IF a*a+b*b=c*c THEN LET n=n+1
50 NEXT a
60 IF n<3 THEN NEXT m
70 FOR a=1 TO rm
80 LET b=INT (m/a): IF a*b=m THEN LET c=INT SQR (a*a+b*b+.1): IF a*a+b*b=c*c THEN PRINT a;",";b;",";c
90 NEXT a
- Einar Saukas
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Re: Micro Challenge magazine...
Good work! However you are probably skipping many triangles with A=B due to rounding errors, although you are lucky that they are not part of the solution. To avoid this problem, use "LET rm=INT SQR (m+.1)".
Also the correct area is m/2 instead of m.
An even easier (but less efficient) way to discard mirrored triangles would be just adding "AND A<=B" in the original program.
Also the correct area is m/2 instead of m.
An even easier (but less efficient) way to discard mirrored triangles would be just adding "AND A<=B" in the original program.
- MatGubbins
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Re: Micro Challenge magazine...
I never understood the question, nor do I understand the answers that have been given. Life is great!
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Re: Micro Challenge magazine...
Ditto! Indeed, I originally assumed the question was related to the illustration. But the answers here made me realise that it's a general geometry puzzle, that some of the smart folks here have solved with code. I couldn't have solved it with or without code. The organisers didn't provide much of a 'workspace', did they?!MatGubbins wrote: ↑Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:50 am I never understood the question, nor do I understand the answers that have been given. Life is great!
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Re: Micro Challenge magazine...
It is a very optimistic advert.
It assumes a working understanding of BASIC & Maths.
It assumes a working understanding of BASIC & Maths.
Spoiler
In an age where we now do the opposite and assume our audience are windowlickers it is rather jarring to see these kind of things no thought was given to the readers that today would be 'triggered' by being unable to complete the task and it invading their safe space of mediocrity enabling them to carry on with a life unchallenged. Having spent a childhood of 'everyone wins a prize' mentality.
My alt-right rant aside. Did the magazine ever launch? It seems deliciously micro-computer, bad marketing/planning + cryptic.The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there. - L.P. HartleySpoiler
The Go-Between is a excellent read and well worth your time.
Re: Micro Challenge magazine...
Heh, I wouldn't have won the TV, either back then or today...
Maybe if they'd given a couple of examples I might have worked out what they were banging on about..
Anyway, better go, it's time for me to wander round Kweepa's house to watch something on the new telly...
Maybe if they'd given a couple of examples I might have worked out what they were banging on about..
Anyway, better go, it's time for me to wander round Kweepa's house to watch something on the new telly...
My Speccy site: thirdharmoniser.com
Re: Micro Challenge magazine...
Looks like it somehow made it to #4, at least.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Micro-Challe ... 1136353088
Possibly parents and teachers buying it?