Matrix+Matrix
Situation puzzles (sometimes called lateral thinking puzzles) are ones where you need to ask lots of yes or no questions to figure out what happened in the situation. These are good puzzles for groups where one person knows the puzzle and answers the questions.
1. The math teacher gave Pat two matrices and told her to add them. But she said she couldn't add them even though she learned how to do matrix addition the day before. The funny thing is that the teacher said that she did a good job. Why?
2. The math teacher then gave Mat two matrices and told him to add them. This time, Mat added them and showed the results to the teacher. But the teacher looked at him strangely. Why?
Answer
You have to understand about dimensions in a matrix in order to solve this teaser. Each matrix has its own dimension, and it's determined by the number of rows and columns of numbers in it. You can add or subtract matrices only when they have same dimensions.
1. The two matrices had different dimensions. So, it was impossible to add. Therefore, you are right if you say you cannot add them.
2. The teacher gave him matrices with different dimensions, too. But he somehow added them even though it is not possible!
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Comments
unklemyke   
Aug 16, 2010
| Wouldn't this fit more readily into the math category?  Seems to me that you need some math skills here to get the correct answer.  |
AlexRi3er
Aug 21, 2010
| It doesn't require any computation, and you don't even know the figures. Good Teaser  |
quizwizAhn   
Sep 07, 2010
| Well, don't blame me! I put it in the math category at first, but the editors said it fits better at situation. |
kittygirl19
Dec 26, 2010
| Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   |
bookworm91 
Dec 30, 2010
| Yay, my math skills paid off finally. |
Nerine
Jan 06, 2011
| Don't know about matrices (never heard of them)... but I kind of got it using different maths.
You can add a lenght and length, area+area etc. but you can't add an area and a length etc. not really the same but... Maths is not my strong point  |
18818
Jan 08, 2011
| It Is possible,But REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY complicated. |
Jimbo 
Apr 17, 2011
| Firstly this hardly fits the 'situation' category and secondly, what sot of an answer is given to part 2? How can he 'somehow' do something even although it is impossible? Surely he is just incorrect and how is that a situation?  |
quizwizAhn
May 17, 2011
| Jimbo, Firstly, please look at the former comments. I first submitted to the math category, but it got rejected, because the EDITORS said it fits in the situation category. So, it is NOT my fault that this teaser ended up in this category.
Secondly, for part two, 'he somehow did it' MEANS that he was incorrect, since he was not supposed to be able to do it.
Now, PLEASE no more of the 'category' thingy and such. |
kittygirl19
Jul 21, 2011
| Cat was given 2 matrices.Teach asked her 2 add them. she couldn't do it though the teacher praised her. |
Candi7
Jun 23, 2012
| Um yeah, I think we all get it without that many really's. Seriously, it isn't realy necessary. |
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