Australian Air Force's Recruiting Puzzle Shown To Be Unsolvable 113
KernelMuncher writes "Australia's Royal Air Force has been left red-faced after a job ad asked applicants to solve a complex math problem that was revealed to be unsolvable. The service posted the puzzle in a bid to attract the country's best minds to its ranks. 'If you have what it takes to be an engineer in the Air Force call the number below,' it read, above a complicated formula which candidates had to crack. But there was a slight difficulty: The problem had typos and ended up not giving potential operatives the correct contact information."
I know where they got the idea (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe its a test of character? [youtube.com]
It's the Kobayashi Maru! (Score:5, Funny)
It's the Kobayashi Maru!
You're in the army now (Score:5, Funny)
When people pointed out two key typos, the military bosses thanked them and said they were 'exactly the kind of people they are looking for.'
"Eh, sarge, I think this war is a mistake..."
If you can solve the un-solvable... (Score:5, Funny)
...and contact us at our secret phone number, we *really* want you.
How they found out... (Score:5, Funny)
Several potential recruits complained after getting error messages from the Wolfram web page that reduces integrals.
To: Royal Australian Air Force Recruiting Command (Score:5, Funny)
Your problem may be solved by means of a most ingenious proof I have, which the margin of your ad is too small to contain.
I have to go lie down now, I'm not feeling well.
Re:Reminds me of high school (Score:5, Funny)
One thing I love about fresh water school of economics, not only do they claim they can write an equation describing a modern industrial economy, but solve it too.
A strange game ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I know where they got the idea (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Obviously they need brighter people (Score:3, Funny)
And in particular people that know the limits of their own skill. Dunning-Kruger effect at work. People that know the limits of their own skill get help when faced with something beyond them. People that do not know these limits mess it up.
Or, the put things a little differently, perception of ability approaches infinity as actual ability approaches zero.
There's no excuse for not knowing your limits. That's why L'Hôpital's Rule was invented.
No wonder.... (Score:4, Funny)
No wonder I kept getting a Chinese take out joint.