Further to FEEG’s post, there is a company here called Dial-a-Nerd that provides computer hardware and software support. In their latest newsletter, they sent this poser.
In this series of numbers, what is the next number in the sequence?
1
11
21
1211
111221
312211
13112221
You can probably find the answer if you google it, but it is so much more fun if you work it out for yourself.
Boadicea's Chariot 
I think you and I may have different ideas of fun, Sipu.
Sheona as a great explorer once said, ‘it is not that I like walking to the South Pole, but I really like having done it.’
Is it a form of maths using base 3?
Easy.
Janus: Maybe, and the answer is?
Sipu: Not maths but logic, us nerds don’t do logic very well (except for the Boolian kind), and the question is a bit deceptive (especially from a “new math” wizard like yourself). Should probably say “Given this series of sets of integers what is the next set of integers in the series”
next 1113213211
then 31131211131221
Hi LW, you may be right about the wording, though I have not decided whether I agree with you on that yet. However, the question was cut and pasted from the news letter, so I take no responsibility for the style of those who describe themselves as Nerds. Your answer is of course correct.
Actually, now that I have considered your suggestion, I concur that it is better phrased than as originally expressed.
It is interesting that you immediately see it as a logic problem as opposed to a maths problem; rather like Sudoku. The trouble is, you do not necessarily know that until you have worked out the answer.
So, no Pseu, it is not a base 3 form of maths. It is more literal than you might imagine.
Sob!
OZ
I think you need to think Only Connect style!
LW, having rethunk it, I would argue that some of the integers perform a numeric function and therefore there is an element of maths in it. But it is late and so I wont rethink any further.
By the way, Pseu, as any good Nerd would be able to tell you, it could not possibly be Base 3.The lowest base it could be, given the integers/numbers so far, would be base 4.
Cheer up OZ. Think crosswords, not cross words.
Silly me.
Is it simple patterning then?
Clue: Speak as you find
Sipu : My seeing it as a logic problem was far from immediate, I have several pages of mathematical scribbles, one attempt getting to line four, before I gave it up. I was outside clearing up after the storm and could only remember the first three lines whilst (while?) raking leaves and reciting the numbers to myself, and the rest as they say is history.
FEEG: Absolutely
I’m not there yet. Maybe I should sleep on it.
I didn’t have a clue, but then I’m hopeless, so I cheated and FEEG is right. 🙂
Told you. But why? 🙂
Rather than explain it and spoil t for those who are still puzzling it out, if you want to know the answer, copy the pyramid of numbers into Google. You should find the answer there.