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Definitely fair.

If B + Csqrt(66) meant to take the sum of B and C and then multiply by sqrt(66), then (B + Csqrt(66))(E + Fsqrt(66)) would simply be
66(B+C)(E+F) and H would always be 0, not a positive integer! So the only possible interpretation is B added to the product of C and sqrt(66).

The preamble explicitly shows how to interpret BCEF so that it means the concatenation of the digits.

As for the clues, if OR, DA, ODU, etc. meant concatenation rather than multiplication then TRADO in clue y would be a 5-digit number with no zeros, so that y could not possibly be a 4-digit answer.

Normal rules of algebra means that unless indicated by parentheses operators have this order of precedence: exponentiation first, then multiplication or division, then addition or subtraction. Square root is exponentiation with exponent = 1/2.

What is concatenation then?

The rules, as I recall them, said that a puzzle should be solvable with O-level/GCSE maths, and the use of a calculator. I’d love to know how many of the corrects have really solved this in that way. I’m nowhere near, I’m trying to work out the possibilities with to four decimal points, because that is all my calculator can do, I cannot calculate sq root 66 any other way.

It is also unfair, and against the rules as stated in my view, because the rules state that the grid should give some help as to other clues. In this case I would deem it impossible to gain any help from the grid with other clues until all the clues (as they stand) have actually been solved.

May not be much comfort candlestick, but I did it with o level maths and a calculator. You don't need decimal points at all if you leave root 66 as root 66 everywhere. You can express G as an equation with whole numbers only and B,C, E and F.

Thanks Harry, that gave me the help I needed. Made a mistake later on which held me up, but at least when I got to the last part I sussed the ambiguity immediately and the final step took less than five minutes. I still think the maths required is too difficult. Can’t say I have had any fun or pleasure whatsoever with this.

candlestick : Regarding your point as to the fairness of the puzzle in that you have to cold solve all the clues then jigsaw in the entries. That is fine in my view. Haven't there been word puzzles where you have to cold solve all the clues and jigsaw them in? You are then using the crossing aspect to get the grid fill. The key in this puzzle is how you deal with the equation. If you want further info then email me oyler@crossnumbersquarterly.com.

Hi all. I’m an occasional listener solver and have come back recently with mixed success.
Arrived a bit late to this one and would appreciate if someone could confirm or otherwise the following:
Are all answers to the DURATIONS clues 4-digit numbers or is it the case that only some are and the rest have to be converted using the given equation form?
Many thanks.

They are all four digit answers, which then have to be converted, in one of two ways, to form the four digit entries.

That helps candlestick. Many thanks.

I seem to be getting only more confused... I now have exactly seven cases where I've determined B C E F values when treating the clue's original answer as a G value. And unless my reading is grievously wrong, that's how many I should have of the other case--where the answer is BCEF and I need to determine the G. In that other case, I have MORE than 13 cases that, as far as I can tell, fulfil the requirements.

I feel as though there is something fundamentally about this puzzle that is just not clicking with me!