I know the answer, but I cannot determine the formula

pgneedscash

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Jan 19, 2018
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This is not homework. It's for a video game. But it is beyond my ability to figure it out.

Using some or all of these numbers, can you arrive at a consistent formula that produces N for each row? You must use X and Y, all other values (including row number) are optional. You may not use zero. Any mathematical operation is allowable. You may introduce a constant not in this list.
XYN
Row #ResilienceAttacks Per SecondAttack DurationAttack RangePowerSpecial PoweractiveAbilityDelayactiveAbilityBusyDurationactiveAbilityCostactiveAbilityRangeReported Strength
155000.671705175201.511908
265340.671706146171.5119012
378540.671707827861.5119018
494190.67170108210881.5119032
5109790.67170149815051.5119050
6130720.67170203620471.5119084
7155250.67170276627791.51190140
8183390.67170374237611.51190224
9215490.67170504350681.51190342
10251910.67170651765501.51190520
11288260.67170733473711.51190660
12323160.67170822182631.51190840
13360830.67170917892241.511901040
14401690.6717010216102671.511901288
15447180.6717011372114291.511901590
16525250.6717013354134201.511902211
17616950.6717015683157621.511903060
18724670.6717018421185131.511904212
19851210.6717021636217441.511905796
20999830.6717025412255391.511908010
211174420.6717029847299961.5119011040
221379490.6717035056352321.5119015249
231620370.6717041175413811.5119021006
241903320.6717048363486051.5119029013
252235690.6717056806570901.5119040020
 
This is not homework. It's for a video game. But it is beyond my ability to figure it out.



Using some or all of these numbers, can you arrive at a consistent formula that produces N for each row? You must use X and Y, all other values (including row number) are optional. You may not use zero. Any mathematical operation is allowable. You may introduce a constant not in this list.

X
YN
Row #ResiliencePowerSpecial
Power
Reported
Strength
155005175208
2653461461712
3785478278618
494191082108832
5109791498150550
6130722036204784
71552527662779140
81833937423761224
92154950435068342
102519165176550520
112882673347371660
123231682218263840
1336083917892241040
144016910216102671288
154471811372114291590
165252513354134202211
176169515683157623060
187246718421185134212
198512121636217445796
209998325412255398010
21117442298472999611040
22137949350563523215249
23162037411754138121006
24190332483634860529013
25223569568065709040020
You say that this is not homework, but the instructions read like some kind of assignment. Is this for a programming class or something?

The information in seven of the columns never changes, making these values irrelevant, so I've deleted those columns in the above. Is the row-number information important, or is it being used merely as a way of naming the various data points?

What techniques have you studied recently? How to you believe you're expected to approach this project? What tools do you have?

When you reply, please include a clear listing of your thoughts and efforts so far. While it may not be possible to backwards-engineer "the" formula that generated these data points, we may be able to help you figure out "a" formula. So please do be complete. Thank you! ;)
 
You say that this is not homework, but the instructions read like some kind of assignment. Is this for a programming class or something?

The information in seven of the columns never changes, making these values irrelevant, so I've deleted those columns in the above. Is the row-number information important, or is it being used merely as a way of naming the various data points?

What techniques have you studied recently? How to you believe you're expected to approach this project? What tools do you have?

When you reply, please include a clear listing of your thoughts and efforts so far. While it may not be possible to backwards-engineer "the" formula that generated these data points, we may be able to help you figure out "a" formula. So please do be complete. Thank you! ;)


I got a response! That's cool. I thought it possible that getting "the" formula might not be possible, especially since I have no idea what it is, and it could be some kind of non-reversible function.

The instructions provided were my own, based on what I have seen and tried. If they sounded assignment-like, I was a college professor in another life, but for writing, not programming.

It is not for a class, certification, or anything else that would require that I do it on my own. Knowing a working answer in this case provides me only with a tool I can use to publically prove a point in this game's forums--and I will definitely give credit where it is due, if that is what you wish. I can be general, specific, or say nothing at all regarding any assistance. That is the call of whomever helps me. I am not trying to steal credit for something I did not (and cannot) do. I have already admitted this is beyond me in math, but it is beyond me in programming as well.

Thank you for cleaning up the unnecessary data. I wanted to give what I had, since I wasn't sure what might be relevant.

As for your other questions, there is no expectation on how to solve. My guess is the game developer would prefer than I not find a solution. It's not against the TOS for me to do so, but it could negatively impact their reputation among players if the developer has been misrepresenting things to players. I have reason to believe they are doing just this, but I am having trouble proving it in a way not easily refuted. I chose this game element because it is one of the original and also does not appear to deviate from any patterns.

Techniques studied? None recently. I took Calc I-III in college, but I'm sure I remember almost none of that, since I haven't used it. I have never taken a programming class.

Based on what I have seen from this file about this game element and other equivalent files for other elements, the columns I have named resilience and Power must be factors. Any element that has a 0 for either value has a Reported Strength of 0. For most game elements, these two columns increase with every new row. The rows correspond to levels. I do not think the level number is part of the answer--I included it because I didn't want to leave out something simple that maybe would make a difference.

For tools, I do not have anything fancy. I've have tried most of my attempts at a solution in Excel, both because I am familiar with it and because the original data is in a CSV format.

I included only the first 25 rows because these are the original 25 levels, but also because I exceeded the length when I included more rows. If additional rows would help, I can include on the columns you have and add the remaining levels. They have added levels in increments of 5. And while the power and strength follow consistent increases within each set of 5, if you graph the whole development, these does not appear to be anything consistent to me.

I hope this helps. I am not being obtuse intentionally. If I did not answer your questions, please let me know. I will try again.

Thank you for any help you can provide, even if it isn't an answer. I greatly appreciate any assistance or nudges in what you believe to be the right direction.
 
You have data points, and want to backwards-engineer "the" formula. Given twenty-five data points and three input values / variables, it might be possible to obtain a regression, but this will be only one of many solutions, given the small amount of data.

On what basis had you concluded that one could obtain "the" formula from the posted information?

Note: The volunteers here give of their time to help struggling math students with concepts and homework exercises. It is possible that none of the volunteers will find time for this, possibly-unanswerable, question. ;)
 
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