When a Programmer Solves a Math Problem

Description

A text-only meme on a white background. The first line presents a challenge from a math teacher: 'Math teacher: get 6 with only numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and basic operations'. The second part of the meme presents a clever, domain-specific solution: 'Me (an intellectual): 3<<4>>2>>1'. There is a small watermark in the bottom left corner for 't.me/dev_meme'. The humor is rooted in the creative interpretation of 'basic operations'. While a math student would think of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, the 'intellectual' (a programmer) uses bitwise shift operators, which are fundamental in low-level programming but not in elementary arithmetic. The expression evaluates to 6 (3 << 4 is 48, 48 >> 2 is 12, 12 >> 1 is 6), correctly solving the puzzle in a way that showcases a programmer's distinct problem-solving mindset

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LowLevelProgramming CSFundamentals DeveloperHumor LanguageQuirks LanguageFeatures

Comments

Anonymous ★ Top Pick The math teacher was looking for `(4-1)*2/3` or something. They weren't prepared for a solution that's O(1) in terms of cognitive overhead for a programmer, but requires explaining binary to the rest of the class

Anonymous ★ Top Pick

The math teacher was looking for `(4-1)*2/3` or something. They weren't prepared for a solution that's O(1) in terms of cognitive overhead for a programmer, but requires explaining binary to the rest of the class
Anonymous

Nothing says “senior engineer” like turning a middle-school math problem into 3<<4>>2>>1 - then spending the rest of the sprint debating whether it should be an arithmetic or logical shift across four languages and two compilers
Anonymous

When you've spent so many years optimizing embedded systems that you instinctively reach for bit shifts instead of multiplication, only to realize the compiler would've done it anyway - but hey, at least you saved those precious 3 CPU cycles in 1987
Anonymous

When your solution is technically correct but uses O(log n) brain cells where O(1) would suffice - because why write '1+2+3' when you can demonstrate your intimate knowledge of CPU instruction sets? This is the software equivalent of using a distributed microservices architecture to calculate 2+2, proving once again that the shortest path between two points is a bitwise operation that makes your code reviewer question their career choices
Anonymous

It evaluates to 6 - until someone runs it on a negative int and we spend the retro arguing arithmetic versus logical right shift
Anonymous

Arithmetic? Too basic. Real devs approximate 6 with a syntax error and a straight face
Anonymous

3<<4>>2>>1 - because to anyone raised on Hacker’s Delight, “basic operations” includes the barrel shifter; correct at the ALU, guaranteed to start a code review about precedence and sign-extension
@pyproman 5y

But you could just 2*3 or 4+2 or 1+2+3
1. @Four_Velocity 5y
  
  But then you're not an intellectual
2. @yyuriykiss 5y
  
  3^2+1-4
  
  @desperado_gmbh 5y
  
  caret means XOR, so 1+(2^3)+4
  
  @zherud 5y
  
  how the fuck is power a basic operation?
  
  @tyomych88 5y
  
  Это ХOR
  
  @zherud 5y
  
  а ну да, 3XOR2+1-4=-2=6
3. @Juliaz852 5y
  
  The point is to use all of them
  
  @pyproman 5y
  
  So, 2|4*1**3?
  
  @minicooper666 5y
  
  Explain that.
  
  @feskow 5y
  
  Is it like a | b returns a+b?
  
  @Juliaz852 5y
  
  It's bytewise or
  
  @feskow 5y
  
  Makes sense now, that's cool
  
  @pyproman 5y
  
  In this case, yes.
  
  @t_Shatterhand 5y
  
  1+4+3-2
@tyomych88 5y

It sais BASIC operations The guy uses C
@yyuriykiss 5y

Still not intellectual
dev_meme 5y

Image text: Math teacher: get 6 with only numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and basic operations Me (an intellectual): 3<<4>>2>>1
1. Deleted Account 5y
  
  (1+3+4)-2?
2. @I_like_trains 5y
  
  So, ((3x4)/2)/1, do I get it right?
  
  dev_meme 5y
  
  Y'all just too smart for this shit, wouldn't you mind unsubscribe?
@d3p43x 5y

4*3/2*1
1. dev_meme 5y
  
  Y'all just too smart for this shit, wouldn't you mind unsubscribe?
  
  @I_like_trains 5y
  
  Ahah, lol
@tyomych88 5y

(4|2) * (1&3)
@slnt_opp 5y

4 + 3 + 1 - 2
@I_like_trains 5y

Funny that it matched, though
1. dev_meme 5y
  
  Of course it does!
2. dev_meme 5y
  
  Did you think we're joking here?
@I_like_trains 5y

Nah, I think we're 3 -> 48 -> 12 -> 6 here
@tyomych88 5y

Int(Asc(Int(Str(1*2+3) + Str(4))))
@tyomych88 5y

(1|2)<<(4-3)
@tyomych88 5y

(1+2)**3/4
@Cinill 5y

4\2*3*1
@Cinill 5y

4-2+3+1
@Cinill 5y

Остальное избыточно
@b4dapp13 5y

4 | 3 | 2 - 1
@p4vook 5y

lol I can do it with 3 different operations 2 * 4 - 3 + 1
@feskow 5y

I wonder how many ways you can get 6 using basic operations
1. @p4vook 5y
  
  infinite number of ways
  
  @feskow 5y
  
  Using only 4 numbers that are given
  
  @feskow 5y
  
  And 4 times
Deleted Account 5y

1+2+3+4-4

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When a Programmer Solves a Math Problem

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