No. 001 - Simple Addition [Written]

[reminded]

[It's about time to give this device a go. In neat, legible writing is simply the following:]

5 + 5 + 5 = 550

It appears I have my arithmetic out of sorts. However, it would be a shame to scrap the equation entirely. Can you help me correct it by adding a single straight line?

Comments

written;

[repudiate]

It amazes me how simply people can be entertained sometimes.

[ she's just staring at all the other replies on this, honestly.. ]

written;

[reminded]

[Don't be jelly, Ange.]

When life is at its most complicated, I find simplicity to be the greatest respite.

[repudiate]

[ i-it's not like she likes puzzles or anything!! ]

So whenever you end up in some sort of weird situation you first ask yourself 'what kind of puzzle could I make up here'?

[reminded]

Oh, no. There is never a puzzle to "make up"; the puzzle is already there. What is a puzzle but the framing of a singular problem? Solve the puzzle with logic, and you will soon solve your problem as well.

[repudiate]

.. At this rate you'll start to sound like someone I know. [ screw you, featherine. ] I hardly believe puzzles can be the means to solving everything.

[reminded]

That, I must concede. A puzzle is rarely enough to fill an empty stomach. Which reminds me of another puzzle, incidentally.

[Look what you did.]

[repudiate]

[ OH NO. She totally called this down upon herself. ]

How surprising. [ she couldn't be more sarcastic.. ]

[reminded]

[Oddly enough, he sympathizes.]

I won't force it upon you if you'd rather not.

[repudiate]

Depends on what kind of puzzle it is. Maybe I just happen to be bored enough right now.

[reminded]

[He knew you'd see it his way.]

Oh, it's a very simple logic puzzle.

Let us say a banana is suspended from the ceiling just beyond your reach. Jumping won't help you as it is too high up, and there is no furniture around for you to stand on. You are very hungry. How do you get the banana down?

[repudiate]

[ Darn you, Layton, seducing people into doing your puzzles..!! ]

... Can't you just throw something at it so it falls down?

[reminded]

Surely, any force strong enough to knock down a banana would also be enough to pulverize it. There must be a more elegant solution.

[Unless Ange likes smashed bananas...?]

[repudiate]

[ Ange is the 'good enough' kind of type, okay.. ]

Hey, maybe I like banana pulp more than actual bananas. [ deadpan. ] Are you at least sure the answer isn't something cheap like 'you can just let the banana down by yourself because the other end of the cord is just hanging there' or something like that?

[reminded]

[You mean an underachiever...!!]

I'm quite sure. The answer is entirely practical, and one you would do well to remember in your day-to-day life. Try to visualize it and think of what you would do realistically.

[repudiate]

Realistically I would just give up and go look for something else to eat.

[ underachiever mindset right here, yup. ]

[reminded]

Oh, but now it's taunting you from up there. Driving you bananas, you might say.

[repudiate]

... That pun was awful.

[reminded]

Oh... My apologies.

[He thought it was quite humorous, himself.]

[repudiate]

Maybe you should be working on your puns first before attempting to drive other people 'bananas'. [ with the way she says it, it just sounds even more weird.. ]

[reminded]

[Using the very pun you just put down isn't the best way to show disapproval... but okay, he sees your point.]

Controversial wordplay notwithstanding, I believe you still owe me a solution. Unless you mean to say you've given up?

[repudiate]

[ Maybe Ange just isn't good at thinking up wittier ways to show disapproval, okay? Okay. ]

No way I'm giving up. But at the same time, solving a riddle like that is just bothersome.

[reminded]

I was hoping a more practical puzzle would suit a practical-seeming sort such as yourself, but perhaps I should have gone for something more overtly logical. I can't predict them all, I suppose.

[repudiate]

You actually give people puzzles based on what they seem like?

[ It's sort of interesting. Then again, on the other hand.. constantly handing out puzzles like that seems dumb to her. Maybe he should meet Featherine or something, she bets the two of them would have a ball together. ]

[reminded]

If I think it might appeal more to their inner puzzler, then yes. Then again, I try not to make assumptions about a person before I truly get to know them. That would be rather ungentlemanly of me.

[repudiate]

Not many people live up to the standards of gentlemanliness nowadays. In fact, I can say fairly accurately that hardly any people at all do.