The Mint answers: We have a winner.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
Stop the press. Somebody solved a Mint puzzle.
There has been much talk about unfair puzzles on Nine’s The Mint, especially from readers of this site.
The show comprises much of its content by endlessly rejecting callers who never seem able to work out the puzzles -several of which are mathematically, if cryptically, based.
The hosts advise viewers to think laterally in order to solve their puzzles. A challenge indeed. As part of an ongoing monitoring of the show’s construct it seems only fair to acknowledge that last night a puzzle was solved.
So how was it done? You let us know.
Here was the puzzler that was solved:
Add the numbers:
1. The number of ears on eleven Christmas Elves.
2. The number of wheels on eighteen bicycles.
3. The number of vowels in the word “TRIFLE”
The correct answer given by viewer ‘Lisa’ was 264 who won $6000 for her efforts.
The basis of the show’s puzzles is such that the formula that arrives at an answer can be re-applied to similar puzzles.
The second puzzle, a ‘Beer Monster’ with imagery last night asked “How Many Litres?”
Lager 96 litres
Ale 21 litres
Ale 2 litres
Light Beer 12 litres
Beer 10 litres
After nobody correctly solved it the answer given was 463.
Bring on the conspiracy theories guys.
Note: stock photo courtesy GiveMeTheRemote.
See also: GiveMeTheRemote
Mint Watch
34 Responses
Tonight another “how many litres” quiz was shown
details:
light beer 87 litres
pilsner 12 litres
ale 5 litre
lager 11 litres
ale 5 litres
answer given was 401
can anyone work out the formula?
Wow, night people are win $1200
but i still thick it is con.
They are published ‘regularly’ in The Australian classifieds.
Are winners somehow publicly listed somewhere to show they are real people?
Considering that the Conditions on the Mint website say that the maximum prize money per week is $29,500, it really gets up my nose that they pretend that the possible ‘prize money’ each night is at least $20,000. No-one has a hope in hell of ever getting all the answers they are claiming you can get – in fact it is illegal for them to give away more than a few thousand a night.
The Mint stinks, it’s fraudulent, and it’s ripping people off big-time.
I can get 463 litres without reversing the numbers. It was almost too easy obvious when I thought about it – but is there another example of this puzzle so I can test my theory always works?
OK, I accept that the words “eleven” and “eighteen” can be added to the answer, but reversing the numbers for no apparent reason? How is that thinking “logically”?
Oh my god. So there is a formula to work out the answers to their ridiculous riddles! But it’s still not the answer to the question they asked!
That’s like asking “If you have 6 donkeys and buy 3 more donkeys how many donkeys do you have?” Then saying the answer is 7 because the word donkeys has 7 letters.
If they ask a question, the correct answer has to be the correct answer to the correct question!
Probably because even though it can be annoying no one really cares! If some twits lose 55c so be it more important things in life to worry about. Besides a previous commentator revealed how it can be worked out.
Nathan while it may seem that way, it’s actually heavily disallowed under the State Permits they have. The cryptic puzzles have one method for each puzzle that it repeats on each occasion, just with different numbers. Ambiguous answers are far from ‘Fair.’
It does seem odd if ACMA can investigate the content of an overseas drama it hasn’t looked at these shows. Maybe nobody has registered a complaint yet.
I stayed up with my parents last night trying to figure out the correct answer. I am imagining they try their hand out before the show begins, trying to get as much possible answers. Then, when they reach the income goal, they give the answer to the next possible answer. But if they are about to run out of possibilities, they give up and give the money away, without reaching their goal.
I guess its allowed and makes them money. But I just think they should give the working out of the answers before they go on to the next one, so this doesn’t come up again. But then again, that would be their future questions?
Add the numbers:
1. The number of ears on eleven Christmas Elves.
2. The number of wheels on eighteen bicycles.
3. The number of vowels in the word “TRIFLE”
______________________________
Here is the Answer:-
the word eleven = 11
ears on elves = 22
the word eighteen = 18
wheels on bikes = 36
Ignore part 3 as there is no actual “number” mentioned
11 + 22 + 18 + 36 = 87
Now reverse the numbers
11 + 22 + 81 + 63 = 177
Add the 2 numbers together
87 + 177 = 264
The Mint is required to have a permit separately in each state (you can see these listed on the telecast itself).
Therefore you would need to complain to the governing body in your state. A letter to the minister concerned might also have an effect.
The NT Govt supply some helpful information for written complaints which would no doubt be helpful in other states too. Perhaps use it as a guideline.
The types of information that will be relevant include:
• Name of the organisation conducting the trade lottery.
• Date and location of the trade lottery being conducted.
• How the trade lottery was promoted.
• Your particular concerns.
• Permit number (if available).
Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation
Conduct of Bingo, raffles, trade promotion lotteries, lucky envelopes, unlicensed staff, etc
61 3 9651 3737
[email protected]
Note: Inspectors carry out investigations as a result of complaints in relation to licence applications, permits and other approvals. Inspectors are available to attend any location 24 hours, 7 days a week.
NSW
Trade promotion lotteries
Phone: 02 9995 0666
[email protected].
QLD
Qld Office of Gaming Regulation
Complaints and Probity ….. 3872 0852
[email protected]
SA
Lottery Licensing
Ph (08) 8226 8500
Fax (08) 8226 8588
Email [email protected]
WA
Main Switchboard: (08) 9425 1888
Free Call: 1800 634 541
[email protected]
TAS
Liquor and Gaming Branch
Telephone: (03) 6233 2475
ACT
ACT Gambling & Racing Commission
Phone: +61 2 6207 0359
[email protected]
NT
Racing Gaming and Licensing
What do I include in my complaint?
As a complainant, you need to make sure you are clear about what you are complaining about. This information will assist the Director of Licensing when investigating your complaint. The types of information that will be relevant include:
• Name of the organisation conducting the trade lottery.
• Date and location of the trade lottery being conducted.
• How the trade lottery was promoted.
• Your particular concerns.
• Permit number (if available).
Who do I send the complaint to?
Complaints must be addressed to:
Director of Licensing
Racing, Gaming and Licensing
GPO Box 1154
Darwin NT 0801
Or email: [email protected]
“How Many Litres?”
Lager 96 litres
Ale 21 litres
Ale 2 litres
Light Beer 12 litres
Beer 10 litres
Correct answer is 463.”
96 + 21 + 2 + 12 + 10
+ 5 instances of the word litre
+ the reverse of each number
69 + 12 + 2 + 21 + 1
+ 212 (the two Ale numbers combined)
=463
Why you reverse the numbers though? Who knows!
They have recently been showing highlights of other “wins” (all wins shown are around the $100 dollar mark)
And even the hosts are hugely surprised when someone gets an question right.
‘OMG!! OMG!! You did it!! WOW!! You just won one hundred dollars how does it feel?? OMG!!”
Reason they dont axe it? Man it would make a shit load of cash.
Hi Neon, with regards to your comment “ACMA cannot accept complaints about the quality or scheduling of programs… This would fall under “quality”, I’m guessing.” I would agree that ACMA can’t dictate the quality of a program, but it should be able to act against a TV program that is taking money from viewers for a competition where there is no clear logic as to how a winning answer is selected. If not ACMA then the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation or Office of Fair Trading should be able to investigate the possibility of misleading conduct?
My guess is, Lisa was hired by The Mint to guess the correct answer so it wouldn’t seem impossible and dodgy. The answer for the next Mint problem, one.
I got 60 for the first one too.
The other one has been on before because I remember having a discussion with someone about it. They asked me the next day what I thought the answer was and neither of us could figure out how they got that answer. I get 141.
Chris there are only 2 vowels in “trifle”
the highlight was john and jacob. haha kids
Hold on.. 98? How did you get that?
Ears of 11 Christmas Elves would be 22 right? (or do Christmas Elves have more than two ears?)
Wheels on 18 bicycles is 36
There are two vowels in TRIFLE
22 + 36 + 2 = 60.
Wow what did I do wrong to not even get 98 as an answer, let alone 264?
ACMA’s info page states:
“ACMA cannot accept complaints about the quality or scheduling of programs…”
This would fall under “quality”, I’m guessing.
A better move would be to tackle this the way it was done in the UK – take it to the government and try and have it brought up in parliament. To that end, emails to the Communications Minister (Stephen Conroy) might be a good idea.
I’ve taken both those puzzles to several very, very competent puzzle-solvers and none of them could work out ANY way to arrive at those answers.
It is a scam of the highest order and must, MUST be killed off.
I got 98, which is what the person just before Lisa said, it seems it must be 98! How 264? Ask Lisa lol.
how much longer before ACMA gets a formal complaint about this show?
I don’t understand how “The Mint” remains on air. All the lateral thinking in the world couldn’t make 264 the correct answer!
I’m amazed the ACCC or the Telecommunications Ombudsman hasn’t been called in to investigate this show and it’s “puzzles”
You got me! From what I can gather it’s just people ringing up giving random numbers to these unsolveable puzzles. I guess they wait until they’ve made enough money then someone magically gets it right. One guy even rang up and said zero! Total con if you ask me and I usually don’t mind these late night quiz shows as light entertainment. The ones on Quizmania were sometimes difficult but always had logical answers.