Datarmatics Researchers Decimate Biscuit-and-Banana Puzzle

Dr. Wonu Nduka
Mathematically!?

Let the biscuit be “x”
let banana be “y” and
Let lollipop be “z”

Such that the pictorial equations can be transformed into algebraic equations,  thus:

x+x+x=30…..(1)
y+y+x=14…..(2)
y+z+z=8…….(3)
‘z’+0.5y+0.5y’x’=?…..(4)

Equations 1, 2 &3 could further be reduced to:

3x=30……..(5)
x+2y=14….(6)
y+2z=8……(7)

From equation (5) we have:
3x=30
x=10
substitute x=10 in equation (6)
2y+10=14
2y+10-10=14-10
2y=4
y=2

Now, substitute y=2 in equation (7)
y+2z=8
2-2+2z=8-2
2z=6
z=3

To evaluate the expression (4), where x=10, y=2 and z=3.
This is the overarching part of the problem-solving episode.

Considering the time, the fingers of the banana and the number of dots on the biscuits.

If x=10 when dots were 10, then x=7, when dots became 7.

If y=2 when we had two fingers of banana, then y=1 when the fingers of banana reduced to 1.

If z=3, when the time was 3 o’clock, then z=2, when the time became 2 o’clock.

When the logic above is being applied to the expression (4) we have:
?
y+yx+z
1+1*7+2
1+7+2=10

EVALUATION
Check using the previous equations, with x=10, y=2 and z=3

x+x+x=30…..(1)
y+y+x=14…..(2)
y+z+z=8…….(3)

From equation (1)
10+10+10=30✅

From equation (2)
2+2+10=14✅

From equation (3)
2+3+3=8✅

Prof. Ebi Efebo
We need to think outside the box
Each of the biscuits have 10 dots
3×10=30
Each dot represents 1
2nd equation
Each finger of banana is  1
2+ 2+10=14
Equation 3
2+3+3=8
2 fingers of banana and the 2 clocks at 3 o’clock  each
Equation 4
2 o’clock+ 1 finger of banana + another finger of banana × 7 dots on the biscuits
2+1+1×7
Applying BODMAS
7×1+1+2
7+1+2=10
That is the answer