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Image via Wikipedia  In our last thrill-packed episode of Braintenance , we discussed the benefits of doing arithmetic calculations ("chain calculations") without the assistance of computers or any extrasensorial visual aids. The problem in the re-posting of the last show, yielded an answer of 28 [or at least it should have]. Most people's biggest challenges are not the arithmetic at all -- the challenges are 1 ) memorizing a string of data, and 2 ) recalling the string in "pieces" ("fractional recall") when going back to check or reaffirm our computations . One hint which might prove helpful is to visualize the entire string as if it were placed at the top of your mental blackboard for reference, and to do the individual calculations below. In this way, you can trick your mind into having a source of embedded reference to go back to. By doing this, you'll have less problems worrying about 'losing your place,' during the computational pro...

Our challenge of several days ago was to use intellectual "brute force" (very rapid, iterative trial-and-error ) to find out which arithmetic operations were being performed on the numbers in the equations which follow. Instead of using the common symbols, I had substituted the letter "n" for any operation. Let's crack the code, Oh Braintenancers . Find the missing signs which are all represented below as the letter "n" in the following simple equations. I'll have answers for you within the next two days. You have plenty of time. Put away the crossword and Sudoku , and give this exercise a whack. Have at it, then. Answers are posted in red . A ) 9 n 3 n 3 = 30  The first n is multiplication, and the second n is addition . B ) 7 n 5 n 3 = 9  The first n is addition, and the second n is subtraction . C ) 12 n 3 n 1 = 5  The first n is division , and the second is addition . Have fun. By the way, are you doing mathematics, arithmetic or something el...

In performing simple arithmetic operations , a sign is required between two numbers to show what action is intended...you've seen the plus symbol, the minus symbol, the multiplication symbol and the division symbol. What follows is a quick Braintenance puzzle, designed to help you make use of several of your mental abilities simultaneously. The principal ability most of us default to is a very rapid trial and error -- when this is done with extreme speed by a computer, it is termed "brute force." Yet this brute force, when exercised in Humans (most of our readers are Humans, some are likely aliens monitoring our internet activity from their home planet, as they plan to conquer us -- but let's not get distracted), improves in terms of its speed. It is like Dran-o for the Brain-o. Find the missing signs which are all represented below as the letter "n" in the following simple equations. I'll have answers for you within the next two days. You have plenty o...