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Celebrating Puzzles

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the puzzles-on-parade dept.

Doofus writes "The New York Times is running an article, Celebrating puzzles, that is about a puzzle exhibit opening at the Lilly Library at Indiana University. The primary collector, a Mr. Slocum, has been collecting interesting and challenging 3D puzzles for many years, and has helped to curate the exhibition. The article describes one variation of the towers of Hanoi puzzle that involves 65 rings and has a mind-blowing 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 moves in a perfect solution. A twist on the standard museum exhibition — the puzzles on exhibit are stored each night in drawers — that must be puzzled open by the first visitors the following morning."

9 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. 'Tis a puzzlement! by FractalZone · · Score: 3, Funny

    I like making the patrons open up the shop, but I wonder if part of the puzzle is for them to figure out that they must do so?

    --
    "You're young, you're drunk, you're in bed, you have knives; shit happens." -- Angelina Jolie
  2. I came across one of these puzzles last night... by sifi · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Perhaps the most famous class of physics-based puzzles is one of the most ancient: puzzle vessels. Usually built in the form of a cup or a jug, these vessels offer the challenge that one must drink from them, or fill them up, without spilling any liquid"

    I think I came across one of these last night in the pub. The funny thing was it seemed to get more difficult as the night went on.

    --
    Sig (appended to the end of comments you post, 120 chars)
  3. Something seems strange with the move numbers by kevinatilusa · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The 65 ring puzzle is claimed to take what turns out to be exactly 2^64 moves. This makes some sense sense for a recursive puzzle, since we could be in a situation where the two ring puzzle finishes in 1 move and each additional ring doubles the length.

    However, it's not consistent with the 9 move puzzle, which is supposed to require 341 (2^8+2^6+2^4+2^2+1) moves. Perhaps the 65 ring puzzle instead requires 2^64+2^62+2^60+...+2^2+1=24,595,658,764,946,068,82 1 moves to solve?

    1. Re:Something seems strange with the move numbers by ASkGNet · · Score: 5, Informative

      The N-ring puzzle requires 2^N - 1 moves to solve. The article is incorrect.

    2. Re:Something seems strange with the move numbers by Sarastrobert · · Score: 5, Interesting
      When you say that formula out loud...


      "Two to the power of N minus one"

      ...you can't really tell if they mean 2^N-1 which is correct or 2^(N-1) which is incorrect but in the article). Perhaps that is what happened?

  4. The best puzzle is easy by lisany · · Score: 4, Funny

    Figure out why hot dogs come in packages of 8 whereas hot dog buns come in packages of 6.

  5. Chinese Rings is also called Baguenaudier by nebaz · · Score: 3, Informative

    A mathematical analysis can be found here with some cool pictures, but it doesn't explain the rules, unfortunately.

    --
    Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
  6. Chinese Rings Puzzle by BasilBrush · · Score: 3, Informative

    The Chinese Rings puzzle is not a variant of the Towers of Hanoi. It's this.

    http://www.puzzles.ca/puzzle_data_3/chinese_rings_ puzzle.html

    They are both recursive puzzles, but that's where the similarity ends.

  7. and EVERYBODY knows the hardest puzzle is.... by suggsjc · · Score: 4, Funny

    women

    It requires an infinte number of correct moves to solve. Also, the correct sequence changes according to mood, surrounding, etc.

    $1,000,000 reward for anyone who can correctly solve this puzzle.

    --
    When I have a kid, I want to put him in one of those strollers for twins and then run around the mall looking frantic.