Countdown Game Show (Britain/France): The Numbers Round

[Eddie W. Shore]

Rules of the Numbers Round

We are given six numbers. Typical the pool of numbers contain a pair of each integer 1 through 10, one 25, one 50, one 75, and one 100. Out of the pool, six numbers are selected.


A target number, also an integer, between 100 to 999 is randomly selected. Your goal is to create a mathematical sentence using only the following:

* Addition
* Subtraction
* Multiplication
* Division

You want to get to the target number exactly if possible. Sentences that get near the number, within 10 high or low, are allowed. On the British game show, the most points are given for hitting the target exactly (10), 7 for being 1-5 away, and 5 for being 6-10 away. The game show allows 30 seconds.

All results, including immediate results, must be integers. Several calculations may be combined.

Using a Deck of Playing Cards

You can simulate a Numbers Round by using a standard deck of playing cards. Designate the cards as follows:

* Aces count as 1
* 2 - 10 count as their value
* Jack counts as 25
* Queen counts as 50
* King counts as 75
* Joker counts as 100

Use can think of a three digit number for a target, or let a calculator or computer application determine the target numbers.

For more details and examples, please see my blog at https://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2018/10/...-game.html

[EdS2]

Note that one or other of the contestants has some degree of freedom in choosing the six ingredients:

Quote:The game involves a board of 24 numbered cards, initially arranged face down in a layout of four rows as follows:

• The top row contains four cards, which are 25, 50, 75 and 100.
• The remaining three rows (currently) contain six, seven and seven cards respectively; these cards are two each of the integers between 1 and 10 inclusive.
  

One contestant chooses from where in this layout six numbers are to be picked. Contestants variously choose a specific pattern (e.g. the inverted T), the number of cards to take from each row, or simply the quantities of large numbers (25–100) and small numbers (1–10). At yet other times, a contestant would give Carol/Rachel a free choice.

[Carsen]

Looks fun Eddie!

[Nigel (UK)]

Back in 2012 I wrote a C program for my Casio FX-9860g Slim calculator to solve Countdown problems. It simply worked through every possibility; the calculator was fast enough to find the answer within the allowed 30 seconds, if one existed.

Having this on my calculator made watching the programme even more fun!

Nigel (UK)

[pier4r]

That sounds also nice for primary school exercises other that minimal training routine for older people.

[Namir]

(10-30-2018 01:24 AM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  Rules of the Numbers Round

We are given six numbers. Typical the pool of numbers contain a pair of each integer 1 through 10, one 25, one 50, one 75, and one 100. Out of the pool, six numbers are selected.


A target number, also an integer, between 100 to 999 is randomly selected. Your goal is to create a mathematical sentence using only the following:

* Addition
* Subtraction
* Multiplication
* Division

You want to get to the target number exactly if possible. Sentences that get near the number, within 10 high or low, are allowed. On the British game show, the most points are given for hitting the target exactly (10), 7 for being 1-5 away, and 5 for being 6-10 away. The game show allows 30 seconds.

All results, including immediate results, must be integers. Several calculations may be combined.

Using a Deck of Playing Cards

You can simulate a Numbers Round by using a standard deck of playing cards. Designate the cards as follows:

* Aces count as 1
* 2 - 10 count as their value
* Jack counts as 25
* Queen counts as 50
* King counts as 75
* Joker counts as 100

Use can think of a three digit number for a target, or let a calculator or computer application determine the target numbers.

For more details and examples, please see my blog at https://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2018/10/...-game.html

My parents used to watch that TV show in France in the 90s. It's still running and you can see it on TV5 Monde.

Namir