Listener 4125 Elementary Number Theory by Oyler

[dr b]

Elementary, indeed. An easily guessed theme as far as resolving the ambiguities is concerned, leading to a very quick grid fill. The most interesting thing about it was checking the statements against the unclued entries to get to the thematic word. This must have been a lot of work to create, but the nature of the solution was too obvious, I think.

[dr b]

for 18a, C, E and G are sufficient to describe a unique 2-digit number. The "non-primeness" of 1 should not enter into it.

[borealis]

That was fun - thanks, Oyler. Wonderful construction and two or three good pdms. Also good starting points for the beginner.
Although finished earlier than I usually do, I am surprised to find that some here thought it easy. I suspect that this one is actually designed so that it is harder, rather than easier, to solve with extensive spreadsheet use. And that sets me a problem - I'll have a go at the spreadsheet construction over the next day or two, and see whether (a) I can do it, and (b) it takes longer that way!

[contendo]

Mysterons, why spill the beans? You've written it off for me this week.

[starwalker]

Although I vaguely remember the announcement, the appearance of a mathematical this weekend was a bit of a shock. Struggled early on due to a silly mistake and not spotting the properties early enough. Shame that it has been given away.

[Philoctetes]

Not quite finished yet - but that's because I was out all day yesterday, managing to work most of it out in my head on a train between Leeds and Birmingham. Not the most taxing, which is probably as well for those for whom this came a week early!

[hallobilly]

No-one seems to have commented that the "property" is referred to the preamble, if one reads every word (or letter). So no need to rely on hints here for reassurance.

[dr b]

If you're referring to statement R, it only applies to each grid entry, but there's nothing in the preamble that requires each grid row and column to satisfy statement R.

[rickyjohn200]

Help I am confused, in the preamble it is ".... the clues detail ALL of the statement letters that apply". If one follows this exactly there is no possible answer for say 4a. Particularly as 4d statement L limits the first digit to three possibilities

[tilbee]

rj200,think there is an answer which satisfies these conditons if you check again,

Ref the thematic word, was at first slightly unsure that I had this correct (but only one solution Icould see), but assume that the careful position of two specific digits in the grid confirms the correctness of this ?

[TheBear69]

rickyjohn2000, there are two 3-digit numbers for which DEI form a complete set of valid statements. One of them is eliminated by the possiblities for 4D.

[tilbee]

S-matrix, I would have hoped that our British education system would have taught any required arithmetic skills required well before the age of 15. In the same way knowledge of the 26 letters and how to construct a word for the more traditional crosswords.

By the time of 6th Form or University these are surely assumed. Managed 3 years of maths at university with nothing but basic arithmetics and no need for a calculator; hardly required for (say) Galois Theory.

[Speravi]

Good fun, I thought, from the doyen of numerical setters. My, somewhat mild, OCD 'encouraged' me to solve from the clues rather than using the property, even after the PDM - which came early.

I should think that the lesson has been learned by now - if you wish to avoid the possibility of a 'spoiler', don't read the thread until you've completed the puzzle.

[hallobilly]

dr b - while your commment is true, there can no other reason for R to be there, unless to give the critical hint, surely? It then makes the puzzle pleasingly self-contained.

[tilbee]

I suggest that where someone has given away more than they should (almost certainly inadvertently), then we should ignore this and let it get lost in the volume of comments on this site, rather than draw attention to it.

Hopefully I m not guilty of the same (sure someone will tell me if I am).

[TheBear69]

Actually the absence of R from all the clues is what eliminates all but the single ambiguity. For example, 12A cannot be 77 despite the fact that BCE are the only other statements true for 77.

[tilbee]

Thanks S-matrix. I think we are agreed - there are basic aptitudes of literacy or numeracy, but the challenge of a Listener is the ability to apply these in both disciplines.

[bobbycollins]

In the absence of a word puzzle this week, I chose, completley at random, number 3657 (To___________ by Apex) from the archive.

I would thoroughly recommend it to others missing their weekly fix.