All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Numbers
Attention Sports Fans (Posted on 2003-10-12) Difficulty: 3 of 5
What number belongs in the spot with the question mark below (and why)?
  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10
  0   1   1   1   1   3   2   4   4   ?

  Submitted by DJ    
Rating: 3.8750 (16 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
5 (five)

The numbers in each column give the distinct number of ways to score that number of points in a football game.
There are three main ways to score in football, by touchdown, field goal, or safety.
A safety is worth two points.
A field goal is worth three points.
A touchdown is worth six points. After scoring a touchdown, a team has the option of kicking for another extra point, or trying to drive back into the end zone for two points (called a two-point conversion). Of course, either of these attempts could fail and the team would score only the six points for the touchdown.

Given that, the possible ways to score are:
  1. Cannot be done
  2. One safety (2)
  3. One field goal (3)
  4. Two safeties (2+2)
  5. One safety and one field goal (2+3)
  6. One touchdown (6)
    Two field goals (3+3)
    Three safeties (2+2+2)
  7. A touchdown with the extra point (7)
    A field goal and two safeties (3+2+2)
  8. Four safeties (2+2+2+2)
    Two field goals and a safety (3+3+2)
    A touchdown and a safety (6+2)
    A touchdown with a two-point conversion (8)
  9. Three field goals (3+3+3)
    A touchdown and a field goal (6+3)
    A touchdown with the extra point and a safety (7+2)
    One field goal and three safeties (3+2+2+2)
  10. A touchdown with the extra point and a field goal (7+3)
    Five safeties (2+2+2+2+2)
    Two field goals and two safeties (3+3+2+2)
    A touchdown and two safeties (6+2+2)
    A touchdown with a two-point conversion and a safety (8+2)
So, there are five different ways to score ten points in a football game.

Another way to arrive at the same analysis, without having to know anything about any sport, would simply be to say that the number in the second row is the number of ways you can generate the number in the first row by adding the numbers 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
sportsCodyDunning2023-01-21 22:33:28
AnswerK Sengupta2008-10-07 00:05:16
SolutionPetio Petev2003-10-13 11:58:26
shoot the bogie manpat2003-10-13 11:24:46
PshawHal90002003-10-13 10:12:18
answerCallum2003-10-13 03:33:10
re(2): ATTENTION SPORTS FAN gave it awayDan2003-10-12 21:29:27
re: ATTENTION SPORTS FAN gave it awayDJ2003-10-12 20:40:37
re: ATTENTION SPORTS FAN gave it awayGamer2003-10-12 18:23:58
ATTENTION SPORTS FAN gave it awayDan2003-10-12 18:04:52
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (8)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information