This week’s Micro Softy is short and sweet. The puzzle is to simplify the following function of x as much as possible.

(x-a)(x-b)(x-c)…(x-y)(x-z)

Hint: This polynomial can be simplified a lot.

We’ll give the answer next Micro Softy Monday here at MindMatters.ai

Solution to Micro Softy 30: Driving a Cement Mixer

Here’s last week’s Micro Softy:

Ray drove to work crossing an ice-covered creek after days of heavy rain followed by snow. Two of Ray’s tires had slow leaks, so he stopped at Percy’s garage to air them up, using Percy’s old but free air pump. Percy’s garage was next to a creek that had recently flooded. After work, Ray drove home, but his car shook violently like a cement mixer. Unable to reach Percy that night, Ray endured the rough drive home. The next morning, as Ray crossed the now-thawed creek, the car’s shaking mysteriously stopped. Despite the smooth ride, Ray went to Percy’s garage for answers.

So what did Percy do?

Percy apologized, as the garage’s old air pump contributed to the problem by introducing moisture into the tires, which then froze.  The previous day’s freezing temperatures had caused ice to form inside the tires, creating an imbalance. The overnight thaw melted the ice, resolving the issue.

Percy removed all the water from Ray’s tires, aired them using his newly purchased air pump and sent Ray on his merry way.

Here’s last week’s puzzle:

Monday Micro Softy 30: Driving a cement mixer. Why did the car with leaky tires suddenly start handling like a cement mixer, and then, just as suddenly, handle normally again? Micro Softy 29 shows that unambiguous facts can be stated in confusing language but cold hard logic can solve the puzzle.

Links to all the Monday Micro Softies

Image Credit: Aro - Adobe Stock

Monday Micro Softy 29: A funeral lament in four lines. The funeral director was puzzled by Dan’s description of his relationship to the deceased but there was no question that his grief was sincere Here, you will also find links to Microsofties 22 through 29 as well.

Monday Micro Softy 21: Finding More of the Deadly Fentanyl Pills. There, you will also find links to Microsofties 11 through 20 as well.

At Monday Micro Softy 11: What Happened to That Other Dollar?, you will find links to the first ten Micro Softies. Have fun!