Sixty-Third Journal Entry

[puzzledprof]

[Backdated to Saturday]

Ah, I was petting Claire earlier, and she reminded me of a puzzle I know.

If 0 + 1 = dog, 0 + 2 = cat, 6 + 3 = dog, 6 + 7 = dog dog, 7 + 9 = dog cat, 11 + 12 = cat dog, and 11 + 17 = cat cat, then what is the smallest number you can add to 1 to get dog dog dog?

Comments

[selfmadehero]

I hate math.

[puzzledprof]

It's just some simple addition.

[selfmadehero]

Yeah, but I look at it and all I can think is "I hate math".

[puzzledprof]

You're not going to give up before you've even begun, are you?

[whatthefactor]

1 + x = dog dog dog and x = 110, zetta duh!

[puzzledprof]

Ah, yes, that is correct. Good job. [Sorry, Sho, he still remembers that Noise incident a couple years back.]

[whatthefactor]

Try doing something greater than a z-class equation next iteration. Something that might actually requires thought.

[Lmao sorry he doesn't care.]

[puzzledprof]

Now now, it's a puzzle, not a textbook.

[satellitemecha]

Let's see...
{ProcessingProcessingProcessing...}

Is it... 110?

[puzzledprof]

That's right; good job!

[satellitemecha]

Thank you.

[thegreathonk]

WoAh...
UhH...
tWo?

[puzzledprof]

Ah, I'm afraid not. Would you like a hint?

[thegreathonk]

Oh.
I gUeSs YoU aLrEaDy tRiEd ThAt ThEn?
SuRe ThInG mAn, LeT's SoLvE tHiS mOtHeRfUcKiNg MyStErY tOgEtHeR.
wHaT hAvE yOu AlReAdY fIgUrEd OuT?

[puzzledprof]

No, I already know the answer; the point of the puzzle is for you to find it.

And could you please be more careful with your language? [Swearing is ungentlemanly :(]

[dustedsunlight]

Uhm...well if dog is one, then you need three ones, for 111. So you'd have to add 110, right?

[puzzledprof]

The answer is correct, but that's not why. One is merely one of the numbers "dog" can be.

[dustedsunlight]

Oh, okay... uhm, well, 6+3 is 9, which is another dog, and 6+7 is 13, which is dog dog...

Aah, I'm confused. I'm not really good with math puzzles. I guess you could subtract cats or something, if you needed to use the other ones... like, if cat dog is 22, then if cat dog minus cat is 22-2 is 20... ooh, I feel like I'm tying myself in knots.

[puzzledprof]

I'll give you a hint; every single whole number can be put into two groups. "Dogs" represent one group, "Cats" represent the other.