FoxTrot Classics by Bill Amend for February 25, 2013

In other words on Jason’s idiotic message, you "press 1“, right?

I did and parentheses are needed before the product (to get 1)…

Since you’re discussing the equation, what’s the proper way to explain the parentheses in an audio phone message?

nowadays, we have smartphones which have voicemail with default recording.

He should say, “…all times 17.5…”, otherwise there is no hint that you need the parentheses. On my first try I got -593, and I KNEW that Amend would give us a proper equation to get to 1 or maybe 2. I just realized that BlackKnight15 also gave us a good way to say it. Bill Amend should get a demerit for that one.

For the phone caller, it would be easiest to just try each number on the touchpad and see which one works.

As the instructions are verbal, merely calculate as each term becomes available. SR – CR * 17.5 – FR = 1

Yeah, with no parenthesis I got the -593 as well, but can understand where the 1 comes from. No wonder no one is calling.

Hmm. Unless one is supposed to key 5 9 3 on the phone—just kidding. But 5 from 9, minus 3 gives you 1. Ha.

What’s his ring tone?

I never leave messages anyway.

Just in case you’re still having trouble with the calculation, here it is in wolframalpha: http://preview.tinyurl.com/agr2d9e

To make it more realistic, and more confusing too, I guess, he should say to leave a message for Paige, press A x B, for Peter press C x D, etc…

-593.

In response to Andy:

Yes.