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Australian Air Force's Recruiting Puzzle Shown To Be Unsolvable

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."

7 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. I know where they got the idea by cold+fjord · · Score: 5, Funny
    --
    much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
  2. It's the Kobayashi Maru! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's the Kobayashi Maru!

  3. You're in the army now by HeadOffice · · 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..."

  4. If you can solve the un-solvable... by anyaristow · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...and contact us at our secret phone number, we *really* want you.

  5. How they found out... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Several potential recruits complained after getting error messages from the Wolfram web page that reduces integrals.

  6. To: Royal Australian Air Force Recruiting Command by cold+fjord · · 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.

    --
    much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
  7. Re:Reminds me of high school by Anonymous Coward · · 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.