# Math Help - This problem is killing me

1. ## This problem is killing me

Hi I'm new and need help desperately. I have to admit I am probably not as good in math than most of the people on this site, but I tried my best and just can't figure this problem out.

1.532 x 0.659 = 0.623
1.542 x 0.631 = 0.623
1.589 x 0.669 = 0.554
1.474 x 0.705 = 0.669

I know each line is simple of course, but the actual problem is X has to match on all 4 lines....

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

2. Im not exactly understanding what your looking for i dont see an X in there except what i would assume is a multiplication sign?

3. Originally Posted by Djaevel
Im not exactly understanding what your looking for i dont see an X in there except what i would assume is a multiplication sign?
Yeah sorry multiplication sign is the X I was referring to.

4. I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're asking...?

Please reply with the full and exact text of the exercise and its instructions, including clarification of what "X" is supposed to indicate (is it a "times" sign, a variable, an empty slot to be filled in, or something else?) and what you mean by "X has to match" (match what? how?).

Thank you!

5. Originally Posted by stapel
I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're asking...?

Please reply with the full and exact text of the exercise and its instructions, including clarification of what "X" is supposed to indicate (is it a "times" sign, a variable, an empty slot to be filled in, or something else?) and what you mean by "X has to match" (match what? how?).

Thank you!
X is an empty slot to be filled. When I said X needs to match is that it has to be the same on all 4 lines.

Here is the question:

Please find a formula that will solve all 4:

1.532 _ 0.659 = 0.623
1.542 _ 0.631 = 0.623
1.589 _ 0.669 = 0.554
1.474 _ 0.705 = 0.669

_ would be the blank space where the formula goes. I have no idea where to begin to create the formula.

6. Originally Posted by sitefeeder
X is an empty slot to be filled. When I said X needs to match is that it has to be the same on all 4 lines.

Here is the question:

Please find a formula that will solve all 4:

1.532 _ 0.659 = 0.623
1.542 _ 0.631 = 0.623

1.589 _ 0.669 = 0.554

1.474 _ 0.705 = 0.669

_ would be the blank space where the formula goes. I have no idea where to begin to create the formula.
from the first 2 lines:
The OPERATOR on the constants in line1
give the same results as the OPERATOR in line2 on those constants.

Line4 and Line5 have a constant (0.669) in common.

That is the key to defining what the operator does.

subtract line2 from line1
$
1.532 \,\,\square \,\, 0.659 = 0.623
$

$
1.542 \,\,\square \,\, 0.631 = 0.623
$

results in:
$
-0.010 [ \, \square \, - \, \square \, ] +0.028 = 0
$

This does NOT hold if the OPERATOR is multiplication or division or exponentiation.

.

7. Thank you very much.

8. Actually the formula has to be the same on all 4 lines without using the other lines to solve it.

like this

1_2 = 3
2_1 = 3
0_3 = 3
3_0 = 3

The answer to the above example would be + without using the other lines to solve the problem.