the answer is not 54325

[abuswawab]

if 1=5, 2=25, 3=325, 4=4325, 5=?

[coyote37]

54325

[Christiana]

9325?

5 + 20 +=25
25+ 300 = 325
325 + 400 = 4325
4325 + 5000 = 8325

Each time add one to the first figure and a nought to the rest.

[Christiana]

Sorry last number should read 9325

[Christiana]

Sorry again, really messing this up.
Should read 54325

325 + 4000
4325 + 50,000

[dr b]

Christiana, that seems on the right track, but did you drop a zero?

5+20
25+300
325+4000
4325+50000
so that gets to 54325, but the title says that's not the answer.

[Christiana]

So still comes out at the 'wrong' answer in terms of your puzzle

[Christiana]

Hi Dr. B. Yes, I did drop a zero, did it again and realised we're back to the 'wrong' answer

[redcrx]

if 1=5, does 5=1?

[dr b]

Why is 54325 not the right answer? That seems overly judgmental. How does 54325 feel about being labeled "wrong"? Does this hurt 54325's self-esteem? Can't we say that all answers are equally valid, in their own way?

[rangerjim]

5425 looks right to me. add 2 in front of 5 toget 25. Add 3 in front of 25 to get 325. add 43 in front of 25 to get 4325. add54 infront of 25 to get 5425

[Christiana]

Sorry, Rangerjim, don't understand why you should add a single number for the first two and then double numbers for the rest.
Dr. B you are, of course, quite right and I'm already thinking about what therapy I can apply to 54325's sense of injury, especially since there's a real risk of a court case to give 54325 appropriate damages.

[dr b]

rangerjim, an equally valid answer we can all be proud of. However, a picky naysayer might ask why you add a single digit in the 2 and 3 cases, but a double digit in the 4 and 5 cases.

[dr b]

not in any way meaning to imply C. is a picky naysayer; her concern for 54325 should lay that fear to rest.

[rangerjim]

Good questions guys!! Wish I could think of a valid answer. I must be getting tired because it seemed logical at the time !!

[rangerjim]

How about 54,325 ?? Progressively adding 20,300,4,000,50,000 Promise I will then go to sleep !!

[Christiana]

But that is still 54325. The following answer was given on Yahoo answers a few days ago. 'This is a poorly phrased problem; because it confuses cardinal and ordinal numbers.
If the 1, 2, 3 etc are cardinal numbers (counting numbers, 1,2,3...) then ignore terms 2,3 and 4, and the fifth term must be 5=1; because 1=5.' Someone else then said they had tried this in circumstances where they needed a passowrd and it worked. So sounds like redcrx is right. However I'm sure, 54325, that you are an equally valid answer and you certainly have a lot of supporters.

[Tallulah!]

Is there an ulterior motive to the question not having a proper title?

[redcrx]

do my stars mean 1 was correct?

[Christiana]

Hi, redcrx refer to my post two above yours.

[redcrx]

thanks Cristiana,

I hadnt noticed that, Im obviously not as clever as i thought :)