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Scientific American (@sciam) profile picture

Scientific American

@sciamNov 7
Can you figure out a secret formula—a polynomial with nonnegative whole number coefficients—by plugging in just two numbers? You can choose your second number based on the result of the first query. (Don’t worry, there’s a hint.) sciam.com/article/math-puzzl…
Math Puzzle: Secret formula

Math Puzzle: Secret formula

Can you guess the puzzle writer’s secret formula?

scientificamerican.com

Nov 7, 2026 · 5:00 AM UTC

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Back to the original post: Scientific American (@sciam) profile pictureScientific AmericanCan you figure out a secret formula—a polynomial with nonnegative whole number coefficients—by plugging in just two numbers? You can choose your second number based on the result of the first query. (Don’t worry, there’s a hint.) https://sciam.com/article/math-puzzle-secret-formula/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=buffer
Jay Bird (@JayBirdHasWords) profile picture
Jay Bird@JayBirdHasWordsNov 7
You lost me at polynomial.
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