Comments on: Weekend Genius Challenge #26: Are You Ready for Some Football?

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:21:22 +0000

William,
T does not equal 7. Instead T=6, PAT=1 (Point After Touchdown) and TPC=2 (Two Point Conversion). So any T can have a PAT or TPC or none of the above added to it.

By: Mortimer

Mortimer — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:02:57 +0000

Technically, there are other possible answers as well – through safeties.
For example, if Atlanta and Miami each recorded one, then the scores (in the intended scenario) would be DET 14 – ATL 32; MIA 41 – HOU 7.

By: septer

septer — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:46:08 +0000

Nathan, That was real nice and nerdy. :-)

By: Nathan Miller

Nathan Miller — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 05:53:08 +0000

Because of the multiplicative property of 0, there are technically two answers. Either the scores are:

HOU 7 v MIA 38
DET 14 v ATL 30

HOU 0 v MIA 45
DET 0 v ATL 44

0 x 2 = 0. That’s easy to forget, but it’s still true.

-Nathan

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 04:12:40 +0000

Since the right answer has been posted, I want to defend my beloved Texans!

We’re going all the way this year!

Woot!

By: Jess

Jess — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:23:46 +0000

Though I think I’m too late…

Dolphins 38
Texans 7

Falcons 30
Lions 14

- Jess

By: Jonathan Dalton

Jonathan Dalton — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:24:29 +0000

Miami 38, Texas 7
Atlanta 30, Detroit 14

By: Brandon Arnold

Brandon Arnold — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:30:50 +0000

Falcons 31 – Lions 14
Dolphins 37 – Texans 7

By: septer

septer — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:25:51 +0000

Thanks William! I knew I wasn’t using the ‘only 2 teams scored field goals’ fact. And I totally ignored the L = 2T when trying to figure out individual scores…like you said it wasn’t just solving mathematical equations!

I feel better now that I know what I missed.

By: William

William — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:26:26 +0000

Septer, there are two facts that you are overlooking:
1. Points can only be scored in discrete 7 or 3 point intervals
2. Only 2 teams scored field goals.

These are really hard to describe in mathmatical equations. I.E. why its more of a logic problem than a math problem.

If T = 7 (1 touchdown)
Then L = 14 (7+7, two touchdowns)
A = D + T = 45, so D = 38 (7+7+7+7+7+3, 5 touchdowns 1 fieldgoal)
B = F + L = 44, so F = 30 (7+7+7+3+3+3, 3 touchdowns 3 fieldgoals)

This gives a total of 11 touchdowns and 4 field goals, with only 2 teams scoring field goals. Falcons outscore everybody but dolphins.