Brain Teaser: Time 17:14, 12:01, 07:04 - What's Next?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a brain teaser involving a sequence of times: 17:14, 12:01, and 07:04, with participants attempting to determine the next time in the sequence. The conversation explores various interpretations, patterns, and potential solutions, reflecting on the nature of the riddle and the reasoning behind proposed answers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the sequence may not have enough terms to derive a definitive answer.
  • Others propose that the times share a common relationship that, once identified, would reveal the next time.
  • A participant mentions that multiple answers could be justified based on mathematical reasoning, including polynomial functions.
  • One participant offers a specific answer of 01:32, arguing it fits the pattern despite its complexity.
  • Another participant analyzes the minutes and hours of the times, suggesting potential next times based on a pattern of reversing digits.
  • Several participants propose 02:00 as a solution, citing a pattern related to the appearance of the times on a digital watch.
  • There is a discussion about whether the answers are based on random guessing or if they follow a discernible pattern.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no consensus on a single correct answer. Multiple competing interpretations and proposed solutions remain, reflecting the complexity and ambiguity of the riddle.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the reasoning behind their proposed answers may depend on specific assumptions or interpretations of the sequence, which are not universally agreed upon.

Oblivion
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17:14, 12:01, 07:04, ?
 
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I don't know, maybe 12:11[/color]? Have you really given enough terms to figure this out?
 
I can think of three legit answers.
 
And They Are...?
 
yomamma said:
And They Are...?

Enough to tell me that this riddle isn't complete and thus has no answer.
 
They are specific times that have something in common. If you figure out the relationship between the first three, the last one will be apparent.
 
Well, 01:32 works. It may not be the most simplest pattern, but it does work...
 
You should realize that given any finite sequence of numbers, no matter how long the sequence is, and no matter what the numbers in the sequence are, you can give any number you want as the next number in the sequence and justify it. The way to do so is to produce a polynomial whose zeros are the numbers in the given sequence plus the one that you answered with. That having been said, I can justify the following answer based on a difference equation.

Answer whited out

02:23
 
17:14, 12:01, 07:04, 02:10
 
  • #10
I think this is one of those "when you get the answer you'll know it" kind of puzzles.

The answer isn't merely arbitrary - i.e.: not merely an extrapolation from the given numbers. The answer will be obvious (once the logic is demonstrated).

eg.: N S E ?

There are many answers that could satisfy the pattern, but W is obviously the correct answer.
 
  • #11
Oblivion said:
17:14, 12:01, 07:04, ?

if you notice the minutes, first 14, then it's components in right to left order: 1 and 4. then if you notice the hours, first there is 17, then form right to left order: 1 and 7. the problem here for me is the 2 in 12:01. maybe it means that it is the second 1, so maybe, you try to say that next is the first right inumber of the middle hour (the socond one) and the first right minute of the socond hour. I know it is extremely confusing, I don't know to how to explian it, but here are my three possibilties:

13:00
10:00
01:00
 
Last edited:
  • #12
17:14, 12:01, 07:04, 01:51
 
  • #13
Oblivion, are you still around?
 
  • #14
Rahmuss said:
17:14, 12:01, 07:04, 01:51

is it random guessing or you have a background pattern?
 
  • #15
solution:

02:00 because when they're seen on a digital watch they have 5:6,7:8,9:10,11:12 lines.(The smallest possible ones must be the solution.)
or
From the 1st set to the 3rd set, you replace the 1's with 0's. Following the same logic of replacing the 1's with 0's, going from the 2nd set to the 4th set you end up with 02:00.
 
  • #16
Oblivion said:
solution:

02:00 because when they're seen on a digital watch they have 5:6,7:8,9:10,11:12 lines.(The smallest possible ones must be the solution.)
or
From the 1st set to the 3rd set, you replace the 1's with 0's. Following the same logic of replacing the 1's with 0's, going from the 2nd set to the 4th set you end up with 02:00.
Pretty good explanation (your first explanation, about the digital watch). I think no one would ever have gotten it.
 

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