Question

combination locks benicio locks his safe by setting each of the three dials to 8. to unlock the safe, he turns the left dial 90° counterclockwise, the middle dial 270° clockwise, and the right dial 180° counterclockwise. which three numbers, in order, unlock the safe?

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze left - dial movement

Each number on the dial is separated by 36 degrees ($360\div10 = 36$). Turning the left - dial 90 degrees counter - clockwise from 8. $90\div36 = 2.5$. Since we are dealing with discrete numbers on the dial, moving 90 degrees counter - clockwise from 8, we get $8 - 2.5\approx5$ (rounding to the nearest number on the dial).

Step2: Analyze middle - dial movement

Turning the middle dial 270 degrees clockwise from 8. $270\div36 = 7.5$. Moving 270 degrees clockwise from 8, we get $8+7.5 - 10$ (because after reaching 10 we loop back to 0) $= 5.5\approx6$.

Step3: Analyze right - dial movement

Turning the right dial 180 degrees counter - clockwise from 8. $180\div36 = 5$. Moving 180 degrees counter - clockwise from 8, we get $8 - 5=3$.

Answer:

5, 6, 3