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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."

3 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. 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.

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  2. 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.

  3. 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?