Wikipedia:Wikifun/Round 9/Answers/Question 7

Ok, I did a little research and I came up with candidates for the city. Downtown Los Angeles uses the area code 213 (Telephone number -> Telephone numbering plan -> List of North American area codes -> Area code 213), and a podunk town in Illinois called East Dubuque has the zip code 61025 (Zip Code -> List of ZIP Codes in the United States -> searched for each of the five-number strings out of the original number, got to List of ZIP Codes in Illinois). If anyone wants to use this, be my guest. The journey is more valuable than the destination and all that. WoodenTaco 02:07, 25 Jun 2005 (UTC)

You are on the right track. However, I won't say what you are correct on, thereby leaving anyone else to continue the train of thought in the question. -- AllyUnion (talk) 12:59, 25 Jun 2005 (UTC)

phone number[edit]

I noticed the following facts:

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" is from Exodus 20:16, but also Exodus 23.1 should be understood as "don't lie"
The last 5 digits are the ZIP code of East Dubuque, IL.
google serches for "East Dubuque" "exodus" "event" "periodically" etc. lead to the Exodus Music Festivals.
the prime factorization of 2138961025 is

                               2
                              5  4733 18077

this means that this number is not divisible by any year's "last two digits" except if these digits are '05' (or '25', see also below), and indeed the last Exodus Music Festival was held in 2005).
dividing 2138961025 by 5 yields 427792205. This is the unix timestamp for 1983-07-23 03:10:05.
The wiki pages about this date give nothing that seems directly related (there is on July 23, 1983, the Gimli Glider crash, and the death of Georges Auric.)
On the ZIP code page, we also learn that they have been introduced in 1983.
This date contains '89' and '10' ; both strings apprear in the given number, and '89' as part of the IP number studied below.
dividing 2138961025 by 5·5 = 25 yields 85558441. A google search for 555-8441 gives at first hit 4Getnot.com: The Internet Directory for the 21st Century
clicking on that link gives (me) an (s)html source instead of the correctly displayed web page, so this "directory of the 21st century" seems somehow no longer in service or (has been) disconnected... (gone? exodus?)
if it would be working, this directory could provide information about the phone number (213)896-1025 (see below)
the port 4733 is used for ssh(2) connections on several systems; google "port 4733" gives as 1st hit [www.cygwin.com/ml/cygwin/2004-09/msg00434.html Mark Eret - RE: SSH on Cygwin Immediate Drops Connections] - i.e. again something "disconnected"...
the only valid way to split 2138961025 into a valid IP number is 213.89.61.025
a ping to this IP does not give a reply ("disconnected" ?)
this IP corresponds to the address c213-89-61-25.cm-upc.chello.se, but nothing on cm-upc.chello.se seems directly accessible. (www.chello.com is a UPC Broadband Internet service provider).
The Exodus band also released a disc in 1989 and '89' is the second component of the above IP number.

In conclusion, I was tempted to say that the true number refers to the (IP) number 213.89.61.025 which is no longer in service or has been disconnected. But of course, if this is a dynamically allocated IP from an ISP, it is quite normal that a ping request does not give an answer.... Thus, finally, I switched back to the idea of a phone number. (213)896-1025 This phone number is not found by google, but

google: "los angeles" phone "(213) 896 1000"

gives

usa24 Yellow Pages ... Dated: 11/27/2002. URL : http://www. Address: 888 S Figueroa St #800 Los Angeles, CA 90017 MAP IT(US only ). Phone: 213-896-1000. Description : N/A. ...

www.enthrallweb.net/demo/clients/ 24group/directory/linkdetail.asp?LINK_ID=4098 - ...

This URL is no more available, but from google's cache, we find that the above line is the directory entry for

Avionet (U.S.A.) Ltd. (dated:  11/27/2002)

Thus, this Avionet Ltd. had the LA phone number 213-896-1000 and thus most probably also 213-896-1025 (if the first is the reception and there are at least 25 other (consecutive) phone lines attributed to this firm), but this number is probably no more available.

Indeed we learn on avionet.com that Avionet (USA) Ltd has merged with another branch of the firm.but these numbers are probably no more available:
on area code 213 we learn that 896 would not be a valid subdivision of this area code.
from there we also learn that the surroundings are now covered by the area code 323, and on that page, that this territory was covered by 213 until 1998
notice that '98' is again part of the unix date given above.
a google search for the second part of the number gives

 http://www.800domains.com/89/61.htm : Toll Free 800 Number Directory

with entries starting from 800-896-1000, via

...

800-896-1024 ring to number

800-896-1025 home telephone number

800-896-1026 whois information

...

up to 800-896-1999. Thus, the corresponding 1-800 number is a 'home telephone number' directory service, which could tell you more about the number 213-896-1025.

Thus, although 213.89.61.025 is a valid IP number (number of the world [wide web/internet]), I finally tend to think that the true meaning of the number is rather the phone number 213-896-1025. — MFH: Talk 2 July 2005 06:36 (UTC)

You're thinking too much. --AllyUnion (talk) 06:50, 24 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Analysis, breaking this up[edit]

The question: 2138961025

The above number has several special meanings. Part of this number would represent a city if it was valid to be used in that manner. This city held the "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" event in a certain year which the last two digits of that year would help determine the true meaning of the above number. Furthermore, the event is held periodically around the world, which has a number that would help you further understand the true meaning of the above number.

Part of this number would represent a city if it was valid to be used in that manner.

(A) What is the number used for in this situation?
(B) What is the city that it represents?

This city held the "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" event in a certain year which the last two digits of that year would help determine the true meaning of the above number.

This city (refers to question B's answer)
(C) What does "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" represent?
Take the answer for C and convert it to something else that makes sense within the city's article page
Take the two digits from the year and do something with them with the initial number, 2138961025.

Furthermore, the event is held periodically around the world, which has a number that would help you further understand the true meaning of the above number.

What is this event?
What number (in this portion of the question) is it talking about? [Relates to a periodic event]

--AllyUnion (talk) 06:50, 24 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Some thoughts: That 213 refers to Los Angeles, California was not that hard to figure out, as it has held the "periodical event" of the Olympic games twice, the tenth games in 1932, and the 23rd games in 1984. (Olympic games in general, is about fair play, i.e. not cheating (e.g. by "bearing false witness to") your fellow athletes). The games of Olympia, which was first held in Athens, Greece in 1896, a year existing in the given number if you remove the two significant numbers of the old area code 213 - according to area code 213, the middle "1" was originally the "marker" of the new (1947) 3-digit area codes, which was used in a state which needed more than one area code, so "2" and "3" were the significant, distinguishing part (as mentioned, the number 23 is also the number of the last LA Olympic game). Now, the number 10 in the given number tells me that the olympiad of interest is the tenth - that is the 1932 Games. The number asked for, is hence 32. Now 32 could be a reference to the area code 312 of Chicago, but I don't see how to move on from there, and I hence am left with two unexplained numbers, "25" from the original question, and my "32", neither of which I know how to treat... Anyone seeing the road out of this wilderness? \Mike(z) 13:19, 2 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

You are close, but remember this is all about numbers. Answer C should be a number. And that should determine what kind of number the "periodical event" is. --AllyUnion (talk) 19:38, 2 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Probably off the track, but

2^{5}=32

. Also, using the hint below, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour is the ninth of Ten commandments, but

9=3^{2}

as well. This doesn't deal with Take the answer for C and convert it to something else that makes sense within the city's article page though, even if all that rubbish turns out to be on the right track... I did find United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_Ninth_Circuit which leads me to think 90 (circuit = 0?), but that doesn't seem to go anywhere... Cursive 22:10, 7 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Hint 2[edit]

What number is the commandment for "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour"? How does number relate to the "periodical event"? --AllyUnion (talk) 08:21, 6 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I've already been thinking for quite some time 'bout how I should connect the ninth (ninth commandment, as mentioned) olymic games in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with the remianing parts of the number. \Mike(z) 13:10, 9 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Well, its a creative answer...[edit]

Well, 8/96 would possibly refer to the Atlanta Olympics... taking care of the 213 and 896 parts. The episode of Married With Children with a production code of 1025 involves the accidental extinguishing by Al Bundy of the Olympic Torch on its way to Atlanta :)

Hint 3[edit]

How does 9 and 23 relate? --AllyUnion (talk) 01:34, 11 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for adding that link - 23 is the 9th prime number. Made me factor the number you gave, 5 x 5 x 4733 x 18077. (and 18077 is Riegelsville, Pennsylvania)

Also, unless I'm mistaken, the metropolitan area population given, 17,545,623, is a prime number. Another related periodic event would be the census. --Psu256 (talk)

Final analysis[edit]

The question: 2138961025

The above number has several special meanings. Part of this number would represent a city if it was valid to be used in that manner. This city held the "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" event in a certain year which the last two digits of that year would help determine the true meaning of the above number. Furthermore, the event is held periodically around the world, which has a number that would help you further understand the true meaning of the above number.

Part of this number would represent a city if it was valid to be used in that manner.

(A) What is the number used for in this situation? Telephone number - Area code 213
(B) What is the city that it represents? Los Angeles

This city held the "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" event in a certain year which the last two digits of that year would help determine the true meaning of the above number.

This city (refers to question B's answer)
(C) What does "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" represent? The number 9
Take the answer for C and convert it to something else that makes sense within the city's article page

The 23rd Olympics held in 1984

Take the two digits from the year and do something with them with the initial number, 2138961025.

Furthermore, the event is held periodically around the world, which has a number that would help you further understand the true meaning of the above number.

What is this event? Olympics
What number (in this portion of the question) is it talking about? [Relates to a periodic event]

The number 4.

Fit the following together:

2138961025
84
4

--AllyUnion (talk) 03:53, 20 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The Olympics are always held on a leap year? Alphax ^τεχ 14:33, 14 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]
- In 2100 they won't be. alerante ✆ 21:25, 20 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Observations[edit]

2138961025 in hex = 17777777777 in oct.

One one and ten sevens. 10 = 2 * (2 + 2), if you believe 1984. Where 4 comes in I don't know. alerante ✆ 21:25, 20 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Um, no it isn't. It is 17737372201. User talk:Psu256

Maybe not according to 1984 mathematics...— MFH: Talk 23:50, 3 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Population[edit]

According to [1], in 1984 there has been released a World Fertility Survey; the world's population grew in this year of about 84 millions, and was at that time slightly over 2 billion (2138961025 ???). Four 4 could be the number of continents they live on (Afrasia, America, Antarctica, Australia: 4 A's....).... — MFH: Talk 23:50, 3 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]

ISBN[edit]

2-138-96102-5 could have been an ISBN code, but http://www.isbn-check.com/checkisbn.pl?isbn=2-138-96102-5 suggests it is not "plausible" (the last checksum digit should be 8).

Curiously enough, among the suggestions for correct numbers, it also lists the possibility of "2-138-96102-5 (eighth digit was changed)". (but with no change in the 8th digit! - some bug in their PEARL script...) — MFH: Talk 23:50, 3 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Final answer[edit]

The question: 2138961025

The above number has several special meanings. Part of this number would represent a city if it was valid to be used in that manner. This city held the "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" event in a certain year which the last two digits of that year would help determine the true meaning of the above number. Furthermore, the event is held periodically around the world, which has a number that would help you further understand the true meaning of the above number.

Part of this number would represent a city if it was valid to be used in that manner.

(A) What is the number used for in this situation? Telephone number - Area code 213
(B) What is the city that it represents? Los Angeles

This city held the "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" event in a certain year which the last two digits of that year would help determine the true meaning of the above number.

This city (refers to question B's answer)
(C) What does "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" represent? The number 9
Take the answer for C and convert it to something else that makes sense within the city's article page

The 23rd Olympics held in 1984 Reason behind this: 23 (number) is the 9th prime number

Take the two digits from the year and do something with them with the initial number, 2138961025.

Furthermore, the event is held periodically around the world, which has a number that would help you further understand the true meaning of the above number.

What is this event? Olympics
What number (in this portion of the question) is it talking about? [Relates to a periodic event]

The number 4.

Take the two digits from the year, 84, and do something with the initial number. What about: 213896102584? Looks pretty random doesn't it? But it isn't, since if you properly break up the numbers, you get a sequence of 2, 13, 89, 610, 2584... which is part of the Fibonacci number sequence as every 4th number in the Fibonacci sequence. --AllyUnion (talk) 06:15, 7 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I hate you. ~~ N (t/c) 21:11, 30 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]