Solution To: Are You Smarter Than A Third Grader?

Here was the original problem:

Given the following, find the pattern:

3, 4, 5

4, 7, 1

8, 4, 0

1, 2, 9

In the four examples given, the first two numbers were used to determine what the third number in the sequence was.

 

 

Here is the solution:

 

Given that the clue was that this first appeared in a third grade text, think about what math skills a third grader possess.  Basically, the two things they should have down at that point is addition and subtraction.  Looking at all 4 sets of numbers, the sum of the three numbers in each of the four sets is 12.  So, given the first two numbers, the third number was derived by figuring out what you would have to add to the first two in order for the three numbers to equal 12.  Tada!

 

Gotta love that third grade math!  :)

 

Sincerely,
The Math Freak