Well this is interesting

Here’s the simple math that the puzzle maker probably wants:

Three wands = 21 so 1 wand = 7.

The next line has a single broom + a double broom + a single broom. That’s four brooms. Four brooms = 12 so 1 broom = 3.

The top line has 3 witches, but note that each witch is carrying a wand and a broom.
(witch+wand+broom) * 3 = 45
(witch+wand+broom) = 15
witch + 7 + 3 = 15
witch = 5

So, the bottom line should be read as:
3 + 5 * (7+7) =
Remember the order of operations, parentheses first, then multiplication, then addition.
3 + 5 * 14 =
3 + 70 = 73

Congratulation, DaakSyde!

But, should we just assume that if the witch is holding the wand and the broom we should add the three terms?

And what about the doubled items? Above I took the simple route and assumed the two brooms meant broom + broom, but does it have to be that? After all, these objects are replacing standard variables or numbers. In algebra, bb is not 2b but rather b squared. Of course, the fact that this is not standard math but instead a puzzle opens up even more possibilities…

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I would say that this is not exactly a fair puzzle. For one thing, the witch is holding the wand, so parts of it are hidden. Who’s to say that that’s not equivalent to 5/6 of a wand? Or 7/8, or 0.6472856? Same for the broom. A 9 has part of an 8 in it, so that means it’s really 17! Tell that to your banker.

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My alternate solution:

What if a doubled item means factorial?

The factorial of a positive integer is the product of that integer and all lesser positive integers. It is denoted so: n!

1! = 1

2! = 2 * 1 = 2

3! = 3 * 2 * 1 = 6

4! = 4 * 3 * 2 * 1 = 24

And so on…

If we accept this, it means that line 3 translates to:

broom + broom! + broom = 12

broom can still equal three

3 + 3! + 3 =

3 + 6 + 3 = 12

So, all of the variables still have the same values, but the final equation is now different:

3 + 5 * 7! =

3 + 5 * 5040 =

3 + 25,200 = 25,203

So, if you ask me, 25,203 is a perfectly valid alternate answer.

I wonder if there are others.

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That “doubled” broom is actually 1.37562946 brooms. I counted the pixels.

Not really. But I doubt the pixels are the same for the repeated figures, so how do we know they actually mean the same thing?

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And it’s not a complete double broom. It’s more like 1.1 brooms.

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Forgive the dramatic angle change and my finger over the lens.
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I haven’t read that article, but, yes, I respect Ed Wood. For two reasons:

1-I’ve seen worse films than his.
2-He took a chance to pursue a career he was clearly passionate about.

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Have you seen “Take It Out in Trade”?

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Glen or Glenda is one of my very favorite films, so yes I do respect Ed Wood.

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Alas, no. Nor have I seen Glen and Glenda the hardcore remake of Ed Wood’s Glen or Glenda.

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Not yet.

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Let me know if you do. I’ve not seen it either…and I’m not sure I want to. I think “The Violent Years” holds up well, though. I think there’s a clip in the article I posted.

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I still haven’t seen Jail Bait. The later works sound more than a little sad, although I did see and enjoy the Wood-scripted Orgy of the Dead and it was fun, although not one of the best Wood related I’ve seen.

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Want to see a movie worse than one of Ed Wood’s? Try one of Neil Breen’s.

Breen is the guy with the frizzy mullet, and this is only one of his many films.

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Today I was emailed a blackmail attempt. They claimed to have infected my computer with malware and wanted me to send some money to them as bitcoin.

As evidence of their seriousness, they Included what they said was my LinkedIn password. I’m pretty sure what they quoted was my password from 10 years ago.

So I guess the information originated here:


… and recently some nefarious person bought this information not realizing it was so old.

So update your passwords periodically!

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/Od4dL9Lip2/tunnel_29

It all began with a knock at the door. Joachim, a 22-year-old engineering student, was in his room at university in West Berlin. He had been studying there for a few months, spending his free time taking photographs, or going to jazz nights.

At his door were two Italian students he knew in passing who had come to ask for his help. They needed to get some friends out of East Berlin and they wanted to do this by digging a tunnel.

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I received one that said they had video of me “jerking it” which they would release to my address book if I didn’t pay up. As a clitoris having person, I’m unclear on how one might jerk it, because anything I can envision differs significantly from how I would typically interact with it. Kinda hilarious overall, lazy spam but perhaps slightly more effective on a person with something they might conceivably jerk.

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Sounds like the same email.
Did yours involve a LinkedIn password too?

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