• September 16, 2004

Google has launched a cryptic outdoor ad campaign with the intent of recruiting math wiz and engineer types from Cambridge, Mass. (home of MIT and Harvard) and Silicon Valley home to the Mountain View, California media company. The mysterious signs challenge passers-by to solve a complicated math problem that simply reads:

{first 10-digit prime found in consecutive digits of e}.com

A little FYI: e is the base of the natural system of logarithms, having a numerical value of about 2.71828 (though the number goes on forever). The correct answer to the banner problem leads to a Web site containing another puzzle. Eventually, problem-solvers land at a Google Web page asking them for their resume.