Project Euler Forum

By reading the problem and the posts in this topic I really have to say that there is a little too much ambiguity in the problem. I recommend editing it and make a better explanation about what you consider trivial/non-trivial examples. That part can be really confusing, I had to come here (on the forum) to understand the difference.

The problem states, "There are exactly four non-trivial examples of this type of fraction", however, I am getting 8 such examples.
All the examples are of form
ax/xb or xa/bx (Where, ax/xb/xa/bx are 2 digit numbers And ax<xb & xa<bx; Eg: 16/64 => ax/xb (a=1,x=6,b=4) - Where I am cancelling x from both numerator and denominator.)
Hope the above statement states same as non-trivial definition mentioned in the question. If not, then please let me know.

You're citing partially.
It reads:
"There are exactly four non-trivial examples of this type of fraction,less than one in value,
And please remove your spoilers.

The required solution should be given as the denominator of the simplified (reduced) fraction resulting from a multiplication of the four fractions - it has nothing to do with "lowest common terms".

SoboLAN wrote:By reading the problem and the posts in this topic I really have to say that there is a little too much ambiguity in the problem. I recommend editing it and make a better explanation about what you consider trivial/non-trivial examples. That part can be really confusing, I had to come here (on the forum) to understand the difference.

It isn't that ambiguous IMO, because no example without zeros at the end is obvious enough to be trivial.

Clarifying how cancellation works:

The example given is 49/98 = 4/8. Must all cancellations have that same form? That is, given the equation AB/CD = E/F, must
it be the case that B=C,A=E,D=F? Or are other forms of cancellation permitted (e.g. A=D)?

jkhuggins wrote:Clarifying how cancellation works:

The example given is 49/98 = 4/8. Must all cancellations have that same form? That is, given the equation AB/CD = E/F, must it be the case that B=C,A=E,D=F?

Yes.

I had a trouble understanding what "If the product of these four fractions is given in its lowest common terms", but seeing how it was answered in this post, I can proceed with solving a problem. Thanks. But a note to admins, maybe they can elaborate more on some problems in the problem question so we don't have to check this board might be a good idea That said, it was my ignorance not to understand it from the start, because re-reading it now sounds simple and logical. Should get more in touch with my forgotten math terms

Forgive me if this has been asked above. i skimmed lightly because I didn't want to accidnelty see a spoiler.
So I'm doing the problems in order and this is the first one where I am having trouble parsing the language.
It says:

"The fraction 49/98 is a curious fraction, as an inexperienced mathematician in attempting to simplify it may incorrectly believe that 49/98 = 4/8, which is correct, is obtained by cancelling the 9s."

So I get the cancelling the 9s thing but the clause "which is correct' is really throwing me. What do they mean "is correct?" Didn't they just describe it as incorrect earlier in the sentence? And you know, also, obviously incorrect...?

I don't yet understand what they mean by trivial versus non-trivial examples but i am hoping when I understand what that clause is trying to say then I will click in on the rest of the question. Thanks for any help!

49/98=(49)/(2*49)=1/2=4/8.
The point is that 49/98=4/8 but the way how that was achieved is incorrect. (59/91 is not equal to 5/1)

Ohhhhhhh, it IS correct. Lol. For some unknown reason my brain was like 4 is not a factor of 49 so obviously incorrect, lol. Thanks!

Same, having trouble submitting my result.

I reduced the product of 4 fractions to the lowest term, and submitted the denom, but getting wrong answer response.

uprogr wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 2:24 am Same, having trouble submitting my result.

I reduced the product of 4 fractions to the lowest term, and submitted the denom, but getting wrong answer response.

Seems this should be easy enough to verify. Step 1: verify all 4 of your fractions are correct. Step 2: verify that your product is correct and in reduced form.