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Lockman
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I'm preparing to take the US Postal exam. On a practice test I'm taking is a number series part.

Example: 12 10 16 17 8 6 18 _?_ _?_

7 11 3 8 13 15 19 18 _?_ _?_

20 3 6 9 17 14 12 15 18 _?_ _?_

30 20 25 28 30 35 26 40 _?_ _?_

18 14 13 16 12 11 14 10 _?_ _?_

answers are: 19, 4.
23, 28.
11, 8.
45, 24.
9, 12.

My question is what is the equation to get these answers.

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Relentless.
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No wonder postal workers shoot people.
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cottonjim
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No formula Lockman, they are algorithms, and one seems to be a Probabilistic algorithm because it looks fairly random and I can't figure it out in the short time I have looked at it.

Look for the patterns ie. 12 10 16 17 8 6 18 _?_ _?_ 10-8=2 16+17=1 following the same pattern would be 6, 18, (19), (4) (6-4=2 and 18+19=1)

20 3 6 9 17 14 12 15 18 _?_ _?_
20-17=3 3+3=6+3=9 so 14-3= (11) 12+3=15+3=18 the pattern to find the last digit is 20-3=17-3=14-3=11-3= (8)


30 20 25 28 30 35 26 40 _?_ _?_
20+5=25 30+5=35 40+5= (45)
30-2=28-2=26-2=(24)

18 14 13 16 12 11 14 10 _?_ _?_

18-16=2 14-13=1 16-14=2 12-11=1 14-(12)=2 10-(9)=1


Second one looks very random but I am sure it is in there, just need to give it some thought. Does that help? [Smile]

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IWISHIHAD
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It kind of nice to know where these answers come from in these tests.

The bad thing is that in a lot of these tests Postal, Computer Certs etc. are floating on the internet.

If you know how to accesss the right website usually they are there for a price.

My son went through a computer course where he spent 8 hours a day 6 days a week + several hours of homework getting ready to take the Cert. tests.

He passed 3 Certifications but was close to the bottom of his class.( rated on a curve) He chalked up being at the bottom to others having a lot more experience in the field. Many of the students knew each other from the computer industry.

One day he found out that these guys were getting all the tests from a particular website and they were just memorizing them, he was one of the few in the class that did not have the tests. I think he got one more Cert. the hard way then went on his way.

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Lockman
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quote:
Originally posted by cottonjim:
No formula Lockman, they are algorithms, and one seems to be a Probabilistic algorithm because it looks fairly random and I can't figure it out in the short time I have looked at it.

Look for the patterns ie. 12 10 16 17 8 6 18 _?_ _?_ 10-8=2 16+17=1 following the same pattern would be 6, 18, (19), (4) (6-4=2 and 18+19=1)

20 3 6 9 17 14 12 15 18 _?_ _?_
20-17=3 3+3=6+3=9 so 14-3= (11) 12+3=15+3=18 the pattern to find the last digit is 20-3=17-3=14-3=11-3= (8)


30 20 25 28 30 35 26 40 _?_ _?_
20+5=25 30+5=35 40+5= (45)
30-2=28-2=26-2=(24)

18 14 13 16 12 11 14 10 _?_ _?_

18-16=2 14-13=1 16-14=2 12-11=1 14-(12)=2 10-(9)=1


Second one looks very random but I am sure it is in there, just need to give it some thought. Does that help? [Smile]

Thanks CJ. I'm gonna have to study your answers but at least I'm going at it with some idea of what's going on. I never realized the people in the post office knew this stuff. lol

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glassman
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be careful, it looks to me like they are actually recruiting for the crypto branch of the CIA

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PCola77
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Not sure if this helps, because Jims answer made my head spin, but here's my crack at it:

Example 1) 12 10 16 17 8 6 18 _?_ _?_

Group them into alternating 2 number groups, and look for the pattern:

12 10 16 17 8 6 18 _?_ _?_

12, 10....8, 6...? ? So you can see the next two in this piece of the pattern are 4, 2. So the number you are looking for is 4.

The other "two-piece pattern" is:

16, 17, ... 18, ?

That just increments by 1, so the number 19 goes there.

I'm heading home now, but I'll try to do the otehr 4 later tonight.

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IWISHIHAD
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About 6 years ago i put and application in for the postal service and was suppose to take the test. I started looking at the sample tests for the different departments and was thinking, do most of those people in the departments really understand those tests.

Look at some of those sample tests and you be the judge. Lockman posted one example.

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T e x
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quote:
Originally posted by PCola77:
Not sure if this helps, because Jims answer made my head spin, but here's my crack at it:

Example 1) 12 10 16 17 8 6 18 _?_ _?_

Group them into alternating 2 number groups, and look for the pattern:

12 10 16 17 8 6 18 _?_ _?_

12, 10....8, 6...? ? So you can see the next two in this piece of the pattern are 4, 2. So the number you are looking for is 4.

The other "two-piece pattern" is:

16, 17, ... 18, ?

That just increments by 1, so the number 19 goes there.

I'm heading home now, but I'll try to do the otehr 4 later tonight.

I agree...saw that same pattern. The others? nothing leapt out at me, cept maybe adding "5" in the second one...

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Adventures in microcapitalism...

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PCola77
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Last one looked kind of obvious to me:

18 14 13 16 12 11 14 10 ? ?

pattern is x, x - 4, x - 4 - 1
then start over with x-2, so x - 2, x - 2 - 4, x - 2 - 4 - 1

and repeat. Giving you

18, 14, 13...16, 12, 11...14, 10, 9...12, 8, 7...

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PCola77
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4th one:

30 20 25 28 30 35 26 40 ? ?

again the first number in each "section" decreases by an increment of 2. then the other two pieces increment by 5.

30, 20, 25...28, 30, 35...26, 40, 45...24, 50, 55

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PCola77
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LOL. I just started writing how I couldn't figure out #3, and in writing it, I figured it out...

the grouping is 5 numbers. First and last decrease by 3 each time, middle 3 increase by 3 each time.

20 3 6 9 17 14 12 15 18 ??

So 1st and 5th numbers go 20, 17, 14, 11, 8, 5, 2...

2nd 3rd, and 4th go 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27...

put them together and you get:

20, 3, 6, 9, 17...14, 12, 15, 18, 11...8, 21, 24, 27, 5...2, 30, 33, 36, -1...

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classified
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Nice PC ....I was just working on that one....Trying to figure the grouping..but it looks like you got it .. [Wink]
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IMAKEMONEY
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PCola77 DAM YOU OR A BEAN COUNTER, LOL, NICE WORK!
[Razz]

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LIFE IS 10% HOW YOU MAKE IT AND 90% HOW YOU TAKE IT!

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PCola77
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Oh geez, finally figured out the second one...That was drivin me f*cking nuts...

7 11 3 8 13 15 19 18 ? ?

So in this one, the first two positions increment by 4, and the last 3 increment by 5


7, 11, 3, 8, 13...15, 19, 18, 23, 28...23, 27, 33, 38, 43...31, 35, 48, 53, 58...

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PCola77
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Actuary is different than bean counter (accountant). [Razz]

We're way smarter [Big Grin]


quote:
Originally posted by IMAKEMONEY:
PCola77 DAM YOU OR A BEAN COUNTER, LOL, NICE WORK!
[Razz]


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IMAKEMONEY
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SORRY, I STAND IN YOUR SHADOW,LOL

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LIFE IS 10% HOW YOU MAKE IT AND 90% HOW YOU TAKE IT!

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PCola77
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LOL. To be honest though, I didn't get through all of the actuarial exams, and am actually bailing on that career after the new year to become a financial analyst.
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IWISHIHAD
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PCola77 can you do my taxes? I think i will have a few write off's this year from the other side of the board. Nice Job.
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T e x
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fun...lol

However, I still haven't made the connection regarding hiring peeps to case and deliver mail, which is based on Zip codes...

Lockman, do you mind sharing what position this test is screening?

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Nashoba Holba Chepulechi
Adventures in microcapitalism...

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IMAKEMONEY
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quote:
Originally posted by PCola77:
LOL. To be honest though, I didn't get through all of the actuarial exams, and am actually bailing on that career after the new year to become a financial analyst.

I THINK YOU WILL DO WELL!!!

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LIFE IS 10% HOW YOU MAKE IT AND 90% HOW YOU TAKE IT!

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PCola77
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I don;t thikn you want me to. I wasn't paying attention 2 years ago and forgeot to send some form. Got a bill this past spring/summer saying I owed like $15,000. Wife almost had a heart attack. I ended up having to pay a few bucks and some late fees and stuff, but doubt you'd want to get that letter [Big Grin]

quote:
Originally posted by IWISHIHAD:
PCola77 can you do my taxes? I think i will have a few write off's this year from the other side of the board. Nice Job.


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IWISHIHAD
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I have probably got worst things in the mail before.
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PCola77
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I'm curious as well. Seems like fairly challenging questions, especially if they were part of a long, timed exam. Like that last one took me almost 20 minutes to figure out. Under exam pressure it could increase significantly.

quote:
Originally posted by T e x:
However, I still haven't made the connection regarding hiring peeps to case and deliver mail, which is based on Zip codes...

Lockman, do you mind sharing what position this test is screening?


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T e x
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quote:
Originally posted by PCola77:
Oh geez, finally figured out the second one...That was drivin me f*cking nuts...

7 11 3 8 13 15 19 18 ? ?

So in this one, the first two positions increment by 4, and the last 3 increment by 5


7, 11, 3, 8, 13...15, 19, 18, 23, 28...23, 27, 33, 38, 43...31, 35, 48, 53, 58...

thought I saw a 5 in there... [Confused]

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Nashoba Holba Chepulechi
Adventures in microcapitalism...

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IWISHIHAD
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Sorry Tex no postal job for you.

PCola77 better not show his wife what he did or she will have him working at nights at the post office and days as a financial analyst.

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PCola77
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LOL. I can sort with the best of 'em! [Big Grin]
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T e x
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lol, my ol' Daddy routed all the mail for Louisiana and Texas...which trucks, which trains, etc...

If a town had a post office? He knew where it was...

Get this, though--Nixon phukked him, his boss, and his boss's boss (all 30-year-plus guys) outta jobs when Nixon "streamlined" the Postal Service. Not just them, either--but their counterparts, nationwide.

Not too awful long after that, going postal entered the lexicon...

Was pretty easy for me to avoid the temptation, lol

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Nashoba Holba Chepulechi
Adventures in microcapitalism...

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PCola77
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My grandfather was a letter carrier on Long Island for most of his life. Not my thing, but it was fun when we were younger hearing stories about peopel he'd meet.
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T e x
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One of my best high-school girlfriend's dad was a career mailman; he delivered in a rough part of town, where black folk kept bad-azz dogs.

When attacked? He killed 'em...

Those folks called him "that mean, white sum'bich"

But they always got their mail...

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Nashoba Holba Chepulechi
Adventures in microcapitalism...

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classified
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lol...good story Tex...You can't do that nowadays without a lawsuit....lol...
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Ace of Spades
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ACE of SPADES is a math expert! [Cool]

But I don't like to brag [Razz]

I used to know a buch of cool math tricks....

Like 11 times tables add the numbers and put that int he middle

EXAMPLE 23 x 11....2 plus five, put in middle = 253...if the number is more than ten put the second number in the middle and carry number to left... 57 x 11....5 + 7 = 12....put 2 in middle carry 1 to left = 627

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T e x
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ya...

different world.

Nowadays, "gangstaz" go on parade with pit bulls, like canine bling.

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Nashoba Holba Chepulechi
Adventures in microcapitalism...

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PCola77
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No offense dude, but I don't think that's a very good "trick.

Just multiplying them out in two pieces makes it a lot easier.

E.g., 11 x any number is the same as (10 + 1)*x which you can commute to 10x +1x. So to multiply by 11 you move the decimal one point to the right, then add the original number

11 x 425 = 10 x 425 + 425 = 4250 + 425 = 4675

Doesn't that seem much more intuitive than adding two numbers, carrying one to the left, etc?

In your example, doesn't 570+57 seem easier to do then try to remember which numbers are on the ends and in the middle and which gets carried over?

Mayeb we should get the Munchkin man to weigh in, didn't he claim to be a math teacher? [Big Grin]

quote:
Originally posted by Ace of Spades:
ACE of SPADES is a math expert! [Cool]

But I don't like to brag [Razz]

I used to know a buch of cool math tricks....

Like 11 times tables add the numbers and put that int he middle

EXAMPLE 23 x 11....2 plus five, put in middle = 253...if the number is more than ten put the second number in the middle and carry number to left... 57 x 11....5 + 7 = 12....put 2 in middle carry 1 to left = 627


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Ace of Spades
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quote:
Originally posted by PCola77:
No offense dude, but I don't think that's a very good "trick.

Just multiplying them out in two pieces makes it a lot easier.

E.g., 11 x any number is the same as (10 + 1)*x which you can commute to 10x +1x. So to multiply by 11 you move the decimal one point to the right, then add the original number

11 x 425 = 10 x 425 + 425 = 4250 + 425 = 4675

Doesn't that seem much more intuitive than adding two numbers, carrying one to the left, etc?

In your example, doesn't 570+57 seem easier to do then try to remember which numbers are on the ends and in the middle and which gets carried over?

Mayeb we should get the Munchkin man to weigh in, didn't he claim to be a math teacher? [Big Grin]

quote:
Originally posted by Ace of Spades:
ACE of SPADES is a math expert! [Cool]

But I don't like to brag [Razz]

I used to know a buch of cool math tricks....

Like 11 times tables add the numbers and put that int he middle

EXAMPLE 23 x 11....2 plus five, put in middle = 253...if the number is more than ten put the second number in the middle and carry number to left... 57 x 11....5 + 7 = 12....put 2 in middle carry 1 to left = 627


No offense taking my friend...if you are a math wiz....take you gift here!!!

http://www.holdbrothers.com/history_0-1.html

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