Weird Arithmetic Brainteaser

[jpez1127]

Today at work, a customer came up to me and gave me a riddle. Me and my coworkers tried to figure it out but we can't. I wanted to see if you can help us.

[ ] - [ ] = 9
+ +
[ ] - [ ] = 14
= =
12 2


The squares are blank and he said to figure it out.

Thanks guys!

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Today at work, a customer came up to me and gave me a riddle. Me and my coworkers tried to figure it out but we can't. I wanted to see if you can help us.

[ ] - [ ] = 9
+ +
[ ] - [ ] = 14
= =
12 2


The squares are blank and he said to figure it out.

Thanks guys!

Please check your post. Is it displayed correctly?

As displayed, it does not make any sense to me....

 

[stapel]

Today at work, a customer came up to me and gave me a riddle. Me and my coworkers tried to figure it out but we can't. I wanted to see if you can help us.

[ ] - [ ] = 9
+ +
[ ] - [ ] = 14
= =
12 2

Are you looking at something like this (but without the letters in the boxes)?

*---*   *---*
| A | - | B | = 9
*---*   *---*
  +       +
*---*   *---*
| C | - | D | = 14
*---*   *---*
  ||      ||
  12       2

To solve the puzzle, do you need to fill in the four boxes with numbers so that:

. . . . .A - B = 9

. . . . .C - D = 14

. . . . .A + C = 12

. . . . .B + D = 2

If so, what are your thoughts? What have you tried? How far have you gotten? Where are you stuck? (Note: I find no solution to the puzzle, if my guesses as to your meaning are correct.)

Please be complete. Thank you!

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Are you looking at something like this (but without the letters in the boxes)?

*---*   *---*
| A | - | B | = 9
*---*   *---*
  +       +
*---*   *---*
| C | - | D | = 14
*---*   *---*
  ||      ||
  12       2

To solve the puzzle, do you need to fill in the four boxes with numbers so that:

. . . . .A - B = 9

. . . . .C - D = 14

. . . . .A + C = 12

. . . . .B + D = 2

If so, what are your thoughts? What have you tried? How far have you gotten? Where are you stuck? (Note: I find no solution to the puzzle, if my guesses as to your meaning are correct.)

Please be complete. Thank you!

If that is the case, then the equations are inconsistent and there is no solution.

(A+C) - (A-B) = 3 → B + C = 3

(C-D) + (B+D) = 16 → B+C = 16

 

[Ishuda]

Today at work, a customer came up to me and gave me a riddle. Me and my coworkers tried to figure it out but we can't. I wanted to see if you can help us.

[ ] - [ ] = 9
+ +
[ ] - [ ] = 14
= =
12 2


The squares are blank and he said to figure it out.

Thanks guys!

I don't think this what was meant but for the first one, choose a number a and compute the number a+9. Then
[a+9] - [a] = 9

Do the second one the same way with a number b.