Ted Soulfield
1. You need to find the underlying rule that unites all numbers in each set but one.
--
2. For this specific puzzle, the rules aren't really mathematical at all.
--
3. For the first set, try to find what numbers have a buddy in the set and which number doesn't.
--
4. For the second set, focus on only one half of each number and again look for buddies.
--
5. For the third set, look at the solutions to the first two for a hint.
(PARTIAL SOLUTION FOLLOWS)
↓
--
↓
6. In the first set, every number also appears with its digits reversed, apart from one.
--
7. In the second set, look at the second digits of each number only. All are repeated twice instead of one.
--
8. The outlier in the first set is 26.
--
9. The outlier in the second set is also 26.
--
10. Now think what the number 26 reminds you of.
--
11. It's nothing to do with math.
--
12. And everything to do with letters.
--
13. Each number in set 3 represents a letter of the alphabet, in alphabetical order. Numbers larger than 26 can be ignored at this point in the solving.
--
14. The numbers/letters spell out the final answer.
--
15. Those numbers (6-15-18-20-25) spell out F-O-R-T-Y.
(SOLUTION FOLLOWS)
↓
↓
--
↓
↓
16. Select 26, 26 and 40, then turn the dial.