19

\begin{array}{l} &19\times 46=784\\ &56+43=102\\ &360\div 15=29\\ &196-55=114\\ \end{array}

Hint 1: For once, this is not an abuse of the equals symbol!
Hint 2: The clues are for the song only, the artist follows.
Hint 3: $26 + 89 = 115$
Hint 4: The third equation is potentially paradoxical, but I don't mind.
Hint 5: Released as a single (B side) in 1696!

martin
  • 1,979
  • 1
  • 11
  • 17
  • Are all the equations clues to one answer? Or is each a different answer – orp Dec 09 '15 at 19:43
  • @orp all one answer – martin Dec 09 '15 at 19:43
  • 1
    If it's not an abuse of the equals symbol, why are the results not $874$, $99$, $25$, and $141$ respectively? – Ian MacDonald Dec 09 '15 at 22:01
  • 1
    @IanMacDonald I think you might mean $ 874, 99, 24,$ and $141\dots$ but you will have to guess the answer to see why! – martin Dec 09 '15 at 22:04
  • 1
    Well, I can make the maths work, but I'm not particularly familiar with the music of that era... but I guess I can't always get what I want. – Alconja Dec 10 '15 at 00:43
  • 1
    @Alconja you were nearly there, but Petter beat you to it! – martin Dec 10 '15 at 05:18
  • 1
    All good. :) I had a bit of a google and found nothing that seemed to fit (hence my hinted "you can't always get what you want", which was a b-side track from '69). If I had've stumbled across the song in the solution I'd have known for sure... but I guess my google-fu is not up to scratch. – Alconja Dec 10 '15 at 05:29

1 Answers1

14

The answer is

If 6 was 9 by Jimi Hendrix

Explanation

The numbers 6 and 9 have been switched in the equations, meaning that any 6 is actually a 9, and any 9 is a 6. Thus the equations turn into

\begin{array}{l} &16\times 49=784\&59+43=102\&390\div 15=26\&169-55=114\\end{array} Which are valid equations!

Explanation of hints

Hint 3 becomes $29 + 86 = 115$ (though it was correct even before switching)
Hint 4 "I don't mind" are lyrics from the song If 6 was 9
Hint 5 The song was released in 1969
The other hints don't need explanation

Petter
  • 696
  • 5
  • 11