Complex Mathematical Puzzle

[reinaldo]

Complex Mathematical Puzzle!

Distribute 20 lbs of pressure in 5 hours, the numbers Must be Odds and each hour must have a value; you can't use even numbers, nor frations, just positives completes!

wich are the values??

 

[tnutty]

Well technically 0 is a value, so

hour 1 = 17
hour 2 = 1
hour 3 = 1
hour 4 = 1
hour 5 = 0.

If 0 is not counted then there is no real solutions.

 

[djeitnstine]

two odds always make an even. 2n+1 + 2n+1 = 4n+2. Since any integer 2n is always even, 4n is also always even. And any even number plus 2 is always even. This also implies 4 odds always make an even.

Then to add an odd to the even number makes it odd

Thus this problem has no solution.

If 0 is acceptable then it has a few solutions.

 

[Dick]

Zero isn't odd in any system of defining 'odd' I've ever heard of. I'm not sure what the point of this problem is. Anybody have any idea?

 

[tnutty]

The answer is you can't