to think nobody will be able to answer this (mathematical) question?

[emkana]

3(7)12 1(5)4
2(?)10

Anyone?

6? Where's it from?

1?

6?

7 - go on tell me I'm right!

7

It's from a verbal reasoning paper.

I know what the answer is but I just don't get it. How do the numbers outside the brackets relate to each other to make the number in the brackets? Okay so 1 add 4 is 5. But how do you arrive at 7 from 3 and 12, in an identical way?

I will only tell if you're right if you explain your reasoning - please!

To me it looks like you divide the number on the right i.e 12 by the number on the left - 3 to give you 4 then you add that to the number on the left = 7

I'm rubbish at questions like that

I thought the answer was 2!

What's the answer to see if we can get the reasoning?

The number in the bracket, minus the number before the bracket. Multiplying the answer by the number before the bracket gives the number after the bracket...

...or something like that

7

3s into 12 go 4 times, add the original no (ie 3) = 7
1s into 4 goes 4 times, add the original no (ie 1) = 5
2s into 10 goes 5 times, add the original no (ie 2) = 7

I think you will find the number in the brackets has to be 4 more than the first number.

I thought;
12 divided by 3 is 4 - add the original 3 is 7
4 divided by 1 is 4 - add the original 4 is 5
so
10 divided by 2 is 5 - add the original 2 is 7

Am I right? Or deluded?

Okay rainyspells and MrsCarriePooter win the prize - thank you, this has been driving me mad!

Oh brilliant Carrie.

I was just about to type the same thing as rainyspells.

oops cross posted but I agree with MrsC

I'd say 7
number on the right divided by the number on the left, plus the number on the left

so 12/3 = 4 +3 = 7
4/1 = 4 +1 = 5

10/2 = 5 +2 = 7

But it's difficult to say it's a pattern with only 2 examples

Its the number in the bracket minus the number on the left multiplied by the number on the left. So
(7-3)*3=12
(5-1)*1=4
(7-2)*2=10

OK see i have x posted :o

But my way works too!