Given this 3 x 3 matrix:

define a simple procedure with the minimal number of operations resulting in the value of 682.

first, I would like to say that if the problem poster has a very specific definiton of "simple" and "operation", then those definitions should be given so as to avoid confusion.  Having said that, based on Ady's and Brian's posts, I am going to assume we need to use row and column operations.

Now 682=2^9+2^7+2^5+2^3+2
also, let r1,r2,r3 be the rows
then taking
r1=r1^9+r1^7+r1^5+r1^3+r1
r2=r2^9+r2^7+r2^5+r2^3+r2
r3=r3^9+r3^7+r3^5+r3^3+r3
you end up with a matrix filled with 682.
If this as well fails to meet the mysterious definitions of simple and/or operations, then I refuse to give this problem any more thought until the original problem poster chooses to enlighten us.  For I would be like a blind man in a pitch dark room looking for a black cat that isn't even there.

Posted by Daniel on 2012-04-16 08:36:49