Find the rest of this brain teaser sequence

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    Brain Rest Sequence
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a brain teaser sequence where participants attempt to fill in missing values in a numerical pattern. The focus includes exploring the methods used to derive the sequence, the nature of the patterns, and the challenges in determining a unique solution.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a sequence with missing values and invites others to fill in the gaps.
  • Another participant suggests that the method used to derive the sequence is simple but may not lead to the correct last row, implying limitations in the approach.
  • A different participant asserts that the sequence is arbitrary, indicating that multiple patterns could fit the same numbers, thus making it difficult to declare any answer as definitively wrong.
  • One participant claims that the sequence is generated by a straightforward method, but acknowledges that it can be solved mechanically, suggesting a lack of complexity in the generating process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of the sequence and the methods used to solve it. There is no consensus on a single correct approach or solution, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the uniqueness of patterns that can fit the given numbers.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the simplicity of the sequence may lead to multiple valid interpretations, highlighting the challenge of identifying a definitive pattern or solution.

Bartholomew
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Fill in the question marks.

Code:
0   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   0
0   1   2   2   2   2   2   1   0
0   1   3   4   4   4   3   1   0
0   1   4   6   7   6   4   1   0
0   1   5   8   9   8   5   1   0
0   1   6   9   10  9   6   1   0
?   ?   ?   ?   ?   ?   ?   ?   ?
?   ?   ?   ?   ?   ?   ?   ?   ?

edit: I deleted the first row of zeroes.
 
Last edited:
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Code:
rates of change:
n   n   n   n   n   n   n   n   n
0   0   1   1   1   1   1   0   0
0   0   1   1   1   1   1   0   0
0   0   1   2   2   2   1   0   0
0   0   1   2   3   2   1   0   0
0   0   1   2   2   2   1   0   0
0   0   1   1   1   1   1   0   0
0   0   1   1   1   1   1   0   0
0   0   1   1   1   1   1   0   0
0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
values:
0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
0   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   0
0   1   2   2   2   2   2   1   0
0   1   3   4   4   4   3   1   0
0   1   4   6   7   6   4   1   0
0   1   5   8   9   8   5   1   0
0   1   6   9   10  9   6   1   0
0   1   7  10  11  10  7   1   0
0   1   8  11  12  11  8   1   0
 
You got annoyingly close with such a simple method , but you didn't quite get it. This isn't as good a puzzle as I thought it might be. You might get the second-to-last row (you didn't this time), but you'll never get the last row with the method you're using. Good try, though.
 
I'll just give the answer for the last row: it's all zeros. You could probably get the second-to-last row in 1 guess just by the method you've used. Meanwhile I'll try to think of a harder sequence having to do with this kind of thing.
 
The problem is that it's an arbitrary pattern. With such a small sequence (or any sequence, really) of numbers you can come up with infinite patterns to match it. You can't say an answer is 'wrong', because it matches at least one of those patterns! I could have typed in random digits if I wanted to.

Good pattern problems look complicated but end up having very simple solutions.
 
Well, it is generated by a fairly simple method. The problem is that it can be solved mechanically; the generating method is not chaotic enough to rule out simple ways of solving it.
 
Last edited:

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