On Feb 1, 8:25 pm, "Krypto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > The correct answer as told to me by a person is > (N>>3) + ((N-7*(N>>3))>>3) > The above term always gives division by 7
Does anybody else notice that this breaks the spirit of the problem (regardless of it's accuracy)? 'N-7' uses the subtraction operator, and is thus an invalid solution for the original question. Build a recursive function, which uses two arbitrary numbers, say 1 and 100. Check each, times 7, and make sure that your target number, N, is between them. Increase or decrease your arbitrary numbers as appropriate. Now pick a random number between those two numbers, and check it. Figure out which two the answer is between, and then check a random number in that subset. Continue this, and you will drill down to the correct answer, by using only *, +, >, and <. I'll bet money that since this was a programming interview, that it wasn't a check of your knowledge of obscure formulas, but rather a check of your lateral thinking and knowledge of programming. ~G -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
