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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
  2. General Discussion
  3. Puzzle Time

Puzzle Time

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  • HoraceH Offline
    HoraceH Offline
    Horace
    wrote on last edited by Horace
    #22

    Yeah that's conceptually identical but for the range being 1-13 rather than 1-52. But with some practice I don't think either is particularly difficult to compute in magic trick time. To identify the number between 0 and 23 based on the order of 4 cards, let hte first card indicate which quartile the number is in, then the second card indicate which tri-cile of that, and the third card which of the two remaining numbers it is.

    Education is extremely important.

    1 Reply Last reply
    • HoraceH Horace

      :::

      Considering 5 random distinct numbers from 1 to 52, the magician could choose either the highest or the lowest number to keep secret, while ordering the remaining four to identify a number between 1 and 24, since there are 24 orderings of four distinct things A,B,C, and D where A is the lowest number, B the second lowest, etc. The magician would choose either the highest or lowest of the 5 numbers, whichever one was within 24 of the remaining highest number, considering 52 to roll over to 1 as numbers increase. This should always be possible. The assistant would identify the hidden number as the indicated offset from the highest of their four cards, rolling over from 52 to 1 if necessary.

      :::

      KlausK Offline
      KlausK Offline
      Klaus
      wrote on last edited by
      #23

      @Horace said in Puzzle Time:

      The magician would choose either the highest or lowest of the 5 numbers, whichever one was within 24 of the remaining highest number

      Ah yes, that was the puzzle piece I was missing.

      1 Reply Last reply
      • HoraceH Offline
        HoraceH Offline
        Horace
        wrote on last edited by
        #24

        jon where do you get these puzzles? Or do you invent them?

        Education is extremely important.

        1 Reply Last reply
        • jon-nycJ Online
          jon-nycJ Online
          jon-nyc
          wrote on last edited by
          #25

          Mostly from a mailing list from a university ‘math circle‘ we were involved with in NC

          Only non-witches get due process.

          • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
          1 Reply Last reply
          • HoraceH Offline
            HoraceH Offline
            Horace
            wrote on last edited by
            #26

            Today it is my responsibility to present a game during a department zoom meeting that we can all participate in. I'm going to give them this puzzle, but I'll have them try to solve it as a group rather than individually and competitively. Should be fun. Maybe I'll be surprised and they'll come up with a solution quickly.

            Education is extremely important.

            jon-nycJ 1 Reply Last reply
            • jon-nycJ Online
              jon-nycJ Online
              jon-nyc
              wrote on last edited by
              #27

              Cool. make sure you say 'copyright jon-nyc 2020'.

              Only non-witches get due process.

              • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
              1 Reply Last reply
              • jon-nycJ Online
                jon-nycJ Online
                jon-nyc
                wrote on last edited by jon-nyc
                #28

                I've since learned that this very method (using top card as suit indicator and three cards as identifier) was used by a magician from the 30s. Probably invented by him.

                Only non-witches get due process.

                • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                HoraceH 1 Reply Last reply
                • jon-nycJ Online
                  jon-nycJ Online
                  jon-nyc
                  wrote on last edited by jon-nyc
                  #29

                  William Fitch Cheney, was his name. Apparently a mathematician and magician.

                  Only non-witches get due process.

                  • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

                    I've since learned that this very method (using top card as suit indicator and three cards as identifier) was used by a magician from the 30s. Probably invented by him.

                    HoraceH Offline
                    HoraceH Offline
                    Horace
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #30

                    @jon-nyc said in Puzzle Time:

                    I've since learned that this very method (using top card as suit indicator and three cards as identifier) was used by a magician from the 30s. Probably invented by him.

                    It's a garbage method compared to mine.

                    Education is extremely important.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • HoraceH Horace

                      Today it is my responsibility to present a game during a department zoom meeting that we can all participate in. I'm going to give them this puzzle, but I'll have them try to solve it as a group rather than individually and competitively. Should be fun. Maybe I'll be surprised and they'll come up with a solution quickly.

                      jon-nycJ Online
                      jon-nycJ Online
                      jon-nyc
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #31

                      @Horace said in Puzzle Time:

                      Today it is my responsibility to present a game during a department zoom meeting that we can all participate in. I'm going to give them this puzzle, but I'll have them try to solve it as a group rather than individually and competitively. Should be fun. Maybe I'll be surprised and they'll come up with a solution quickly.

                      How'd it go?

                      Only non-witches get due process.

                      • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • HoraceH Offline
                        HoraceH Offline
                        Horace
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #32

                        There was a surprise guest and thus no game-time during that meeting. Then the following week there was again no game time. I suppose I'll be on the hook but only if we ever do another game time. Nobody likes these game times during these meetings, but games are fun, and even if nobody has any fun, they are still fun. Just ask everybody professionally obligated to attend the zoom meeting.

                        Education is extremely important.

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