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#1 2013-04-20 03:01:45

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Input and Output

Here's a very nice little puzzle with a difference.

"There are no instructions to this puzzle, so you must use your intuition and creative thinking to solve it."

Enjoy! smile

Play game


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#2 2013-04-20 04:22:03

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

Hi phrontister;


Very good puzzle... Can you solve another?


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#3 2013-04-20 13:52:43

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

Hi Bobby,

I only found this puzzle yesterday after following a link from another site, and I haven't tried any other puzzles yet.

With "I/O" my time is something like yours, but it won't record my score in seconds, only in multiples of minutes. I've tried it in Chrome and Firefox.


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#4 2013-04-20 13:53:56

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

You got me. I cheated.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#5 2013-04-20 14:02:10

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

Yes...you should have used a font closer to the puzzle's. shame


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#6 2013-04-20 14:03:45

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

Yes, but any attempt to do a good job there would really be cheating and would kill the joke.

I still do not get the puzzle.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#7 2013-04-20 14:06:38

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

Good joke! I didn't see it immediately. smile

The puzzle takes some nutting out to work out what's going on.


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#8 2013-04-20 14:08:47

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

Can you solve another?

That is why I wrote that. I figured it would not take you long.

It looks like a page that MIF made for some kind of programmable machine.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#9 2013-04-20 14:14:09

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

I think it's a link to one of MIF's flow charts.

The puzzle took me quite some time last night to solve, and more again to try to get a good score. An enjoyable, challenging, brain teaser. smile


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#10 2013-04-20 14:19:44

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

Tough problem since it does not have any instructions. Not that I would read them anyway. Over here you prove your manliness by never asking directions, never reading instructions or by not crying when stung by a bee.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#11 2013-04-20 14:28:59

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

...and by eating quiche: "Real men eat quiche".

I just shaved 25% off my previous best score (not the time taken) to solve I/O. smile


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#12 2013-04-20 14:39:32

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

Hi;

I am going to shave off some pastrami from the pile my brother just brought in. I am going to eat, see you later.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#13 2013-04-20 15:25:35

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

Sounds very delicious! I don't recall ever having it.

Just trimmed my solution down a further 3%. smile

About to have lunch, and then going out for a few hours. C.u.L8r.


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#14 2013-04-20 18:39:31

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

Hi phrontister;

It is supposed to be Italian but who knows.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#15 2013-04-21 04:02:14

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

A gourmet/connoisseur of Italian foods, perhaps?

Shaved my solution process down some more and also reduced the time to about 28 seconds, which confused the puzzle into thinking I'd spent no time on it at all! Videoed it with SnagIt, too. smile

Last edited by phrontister (2013-04-21 04:16:22)


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#16 2013-04-21 04:37:34

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

Not exactly a connoisseur or a gourmet.

So you are down to 0 seconds. No one is going to beat that.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#17 2013-04-21 04:42:23

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

Not unless they used your trick.

I think the timer needs an overhaul.


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#18 2013-04-21 04:43:38

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

They just better be ready for my time of 111 minutes.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#19 2013-04-21 04:57:44

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

So you solved it while I was out, then?

If you had the puzzle as an app on your iPhone and the puzzle's timer was linked to the phone's date&time, and you flew east in a hurry while solving the puzzle, you could, provided that the phone's clock was set to 'auto zone' & 'auto time', and provided also that you didn't cross the GMT meridian, get a negative time (I think). Legally.


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#20 2013-04-21 04:59:37

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

No, solution yet, I am clicking on things like mad though.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#21 2013-04-21 05:04:37

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

That's exactly how I solved it! I wonder what the chances of that were.

Bedzzz sleep

Last edited by phrontister (2013-04-21 05:07:17)


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#22 2013-04-21 05:22:31

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

I have been very unlucky then...


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#23 2013-04-21 11:14:49

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

Yes, very!! At some stage you must have been soooooo close, yet soooooo far! sad

I don't know how to calculate the probability of something like this, but it would have to be less than a googolplexth, wouldn't it?.

I'd advise that to avoid repeats of failed moves you should list them on a bit of paper (you might have to use more than just one page...or just turn the page over and write on the back), and that you maintain the list in some sort of order. That would help cut down on a fair bit of wasted effort.

And hopefully you'll strike it lucky before trying all the possibilities.

Last edited by phrontister (2013-04-21 11:31:08)


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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#24 2013-04-21 11:36:27

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Input and Output

I had a big break and then something to eat. I am trying again.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#25 2013-04-21 11:40:59

phrontister
Real Member
From: The Land of Tomorrow
Registered: 2009-07-12
Posts: 4,804

Re: Input and Output

Did you miss the wink that I left off my previous post?


"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

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