Air Show Show-Off (June 2025 Challenge Question)

Salvatore drew a diagram of 9 planes and said, "The number of planes to right of me, multiplied by the number of planes left of me, is 3 less than it would have been if my plane had been 3 places to the right of me?

0x8=0, 1x7=7, 2x6=12, 3x5=15, 4x4=16, 5z3=15, 6x2=12, 7x1=7, 8x0=0

He was 3rd from the left, (2x6) = (5x3) - 3

FULL AND PROPER STEP BY STEP ALGEBRA:

L = planes to the left

R = planes to the right

L+R=8

Set it up [algebra is fun]:

[L * R] +3 = [L+3] * [R-3] --> NOW SUB IN "8-L" WHEREVER YOU SEE "R":

L[8-L] + 3 = [L+3] * [8-L-3]

8L - L^2 + 3 = [L+3] * [5 - L]

8L - L^2 + 3 = 5L - L^2 +15 - 3L

8L - L^2 + 3 = 2L - L^2 + 15

8L + 3 = 2L + 15

6L = 12

L = 2

SO WE CONCLUDE THAT IN THE ACTUAL FORMATION HE WAS #3. 2*6=12

HAD HE BEEN #6, THE MATH IS 5*3=15

12+3=15