Listener Crossword 4036: Base Jog by Brimstone

[Speravi]

This week's offering is one of the quarterly numerical puzzles, Base Jog by Brimstone. Good luck!

[turnerjmw]

A pretty puzzle. Much less difficult than it might appear at first glance, and a neat resolution. No spreadsheets or complex calculations needed, so definitely worth a crack for those who throw up their hands at the thought of numerical puzzles - as long as they can get a start.

[starwalker]

Quite agree turnerjmw - I had the rough theme before I had my first grid entry. This is just the kind of mathematical needed to draw in more solvers. Just a calculator and a clear mind are all that are needed, and as you say, a neat resolution i.e. there is no doubt once you have the completed the final part.

[AHearer]

I think this is the one of the few numerical Listeners I have got through in a completely logical sequence -- all too often I've missed a deduction, made a random choice at some point and had to back-track as a penalty for using trial-and-error. As you say, turnerjmw and starwalker, the resolution is neat and leaves one in no doubt.

[Mysterons]

I have just one small doubt - should the clue for 23 across not be C + ASH ?

[Speravi]

"The usual rules of algebra apply...". But in clue H down, the index of B must be (UR + Y), rather than the product of (UR + Y) and (T + E), mustn't it?

[PuzledBadger]

That's the way I read it. Exponents take precedence as discussed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BODMAS#Mathematic al_precedence.
Otherwise it would be written: B^((UR + Y)(T + E))

[AHearer]

Mysterons, 23a worked for me in the form given in the puzzle, and checked correctly with 21d, which according to me would be the only intersection affected by your suggested change.

[Mysterons]

Sorry AHearer, please excuse my temporary lapse - I realised that I had taken a wrong turn at the very end, with values for Q and V interchanged. I should have let you know, my apologies. I enjoyed this one a lot and was delighted to see the thematic material fall into place - a real gem of a puzzle !

[kayakamina]

I normally run a mile when I see it is a numerical puzzle, but after reading some of your comments I gave it a go and found it very enjoyable.
I hope it wasn't a one-off for me!

[Speravi]

Thank you, PuzledBadger, for that clarification.

[Speravi]

A very nicely judged puzzle, I thought, and most enjoyable. Thanks to Brimstone - you're a diamond geezer, if I have the vernacular correct. As an aside, one of the pleasures of completing a puzzle for me is to read through earlier posts to identify (and smile in appreciation at) the oblique references to thematic elements - some of these are close to art.

[turnerjmw]

Yes, Speravi, I forgot to thank Brimstone. The use of concatenation is an elegant way of preventing the complexity of the arithmetic getting out of hand, as it can easily do when six or seven digit numbers are being created, and it's made the puzzle much more accessible as a result.

[bonefixer]

Solved the grid, and filled in the 18 letters, BUT, am not quite sure about the intersection of 2 numbers to give the middle square, nor the double relevance of the title.

Do the numbers relate to the record broken in the event 35 years ago? And does "Base Jog" when converted to figures have any relevance?

A clue would be appreciated.

[robinruth]

We've got there and were staggered at the amount of work that must have gone into the construction of all those 'relevant' clues.

Bonefixer - on reading your post, I attempted to convert 'Base Jog' into numbers and it seemed to lead me nowhere at all. I have simply been assuming that it is a reference to the event in question - kind of rephrased.

[AHearer]

If the JOG in the title is converted, it makes the larger of the two relevant numbers.

[turnerjmw]

As does the BASE to the smaller . . .

[midazolam]

i thought this was probably the best numerical listener i have solved (in my short history). replaced words in a packed final grid, a thematic grid layout, clues that actually spell words and of thematic reference.

The general idea of the theme was going to be obvious but that in no way detracts from a superb puzzle. It must be in the top 3 at the end of the year.

The title cryptically means "relevant numbers" at the end of the preamble. I don't think it translates to anything in numbers.

[midazolam]

oh yes, AHearer and turnerjmw - they do! brilliance

[robinruth]

Yes, thank you turnerjmw and AHearer - I was already impressed without that - now I am astounded!