Puzzle

[brrm]

I happened to see this on 'Big Game TV' last night (I know, I know), and when they finally gave the answer (it was a phone-in competition), they didn't explain it. So now I'm curious.

"Add the numbers!"

1. NINE DAYS OFF
2. FOUR HOLIDAYS
3. 14 SHOPPING TRIPS
4. 3 LONG WEEKENDS

Now, I'm going to assume that it doesn't rely on arbitrary values for e.g. 'holidays', as that would surely make it a not-very-legal lottery.

The answer was 1661. So, mathematicians and bored people, how do you get that answer?

Comments

[antinomy.livejournal.com]

I believe I saw these people up on Watchdog for essentially running a somewhat arbitrary lottery, yes. They refused to explain how they came up with their answers.

[ms-saffie.livejournal.com]

Yeas, I saw that too