Algebra to the rescue!

[pokerfan]

http://math-fail.com/2012/01/solution-to-mindfuck-problem.html

Seriously, I used to do this when someone would email me one of these so-called magic tricks. They eventually took me off their mailing list.

[kentauros]

1. So, where's "x"?

[pokerfan]

2. right here

Archaeology is the search for fact. Not truth. If it’s truth you’re interested in, Dr. Tyree’s philosophy class is right down the hall. So forget any ideas you’ve got about lost cities, exotic travel, and digging up the world. We do not follow maps to buried treasure and “X” never, ever, marks the spot!

[kentauros]

3. What's the origin of the "Find 'x' -- Here it is" graphic?

I would guess it's real, but never saw where it came from. Someone around here used to use it as their signature image, too

[pokerfan]

4. I first saw it as a collection of test answers

Like this: http://haha.nu/funny/funny-math

[kentauros]

5. I laughed out loud at the first one,

and the fourth one

Now, one thing art history taught me was that there are some brilliant professors out there. That is, one I had gave us credit for bullshitting our way through an essay answer. Not full credit, mind you, but something for our effort. I'm surprised some of those answers didn't also get some kind of partial credit for being inventive

[pokerfan]

6. then there's this one

which is actually correct:

[kentauros]

7. I don't remember enough about logs to even begin to solve that.

But the "commentary" is excellent!

[krispos42]

8. Very nice!