09 March 2011

A mathematical CAPTCHA

Geekosystem found the captcha above at the signup page for Quantum Random Bit Generator Service.  When I double-checked the source,  I found that not all of the questions are as easy as the one above.  To wit...
I'm going to need some help...

9 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 9, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    Neither of those questions are easy for me ... then again I don't think I'll end up on Quantum Random Bit Generator Service page! Great find.

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  2. MarkMarch 9, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    It's not really a question to determine if you are human, but whether or not you've taken a year of Calculus or not.

    Actually, the trig derivate question is easier than the one I just got when I pulled up the website.

    Find the first real zero of

    p(x) = x^3 - 7x^2 + 2x + 40


    I just showed it my coworker and we're both like, screw it that's too much work, let the computer solve it !

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  3. VeliciaMarch 9, 2011 at 4:26 PM

    I don't see how this improves the function of capchas, given that math is the one thing computers really rock at. Capchas take advantage of our superior language recognition skills.

    Still, it makes for an amusing break from the usual jumble of random letters.

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  4. EmilyMarch 9, 2011 at 11:31 PM

    I'm guessing that the real test is not solving the math problem, but being able to identify the numbers and letters-- not to mention make sense of the notation-- so you know what to enter into your calculator.

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  5. AmyMarch 10, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    Reykjavik!
    The Beatles!
    What is milk chocolate?

    ReplyDelete
  6. JDJarvisMarch 10, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    The answer is 1.

    Well, probably not, but close enough for me.

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  7. twellveMarch 11, 2011 at 4:38 AM

    weird. i know two people who work at that institute...

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  8. AnonymousMarch 11, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    I believe the answer to the second is 12. There's an error in notation though, it should not be a partial derivative since "x" is the only argument.

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  9. AnonymousJune 20, 2011 at 11:56 PM

    First solution: 15

    Second solution: 12

    Too easy. but fantastic captcha

    ReplyDelete