The smarter you are, the harder this is

hot_pastrami · 06-04-2004, 11:33 PM

It is said that the smarter a person is, the more difficulty they have in solving this puzzle. I don't know how much truth there is in that, but it took me about 30 minutes. Dr. Richard Duke at the University of Michigan, who uses this puzzle as a demonstration in his gaming/simulation courses, took more than a year to figure it out initially. Some people solve it in mere seconds.

The page has all the information you need to solve the puzzle. Don't spoil the answer for everybody else if you figure it out. Have fun!

elSicomoro · 06-04-2004, 11:42 PM

Okay...so that took about 5 minutes for me to figure out...hmmm...

06-05-2004, 12:09 AM

OK, I must be an imbecile worthy of sterilizing (I told ya'll I had minor neurological damage!). I figured it out on the 3rd try and the first one didn't count cuz I just automatically put down the botanically correct number without looking at anything else.

Lady Sidhe · 06-05-2004, 12:18 AM

Damn, I must be brilliant...I can't seem to figure it out. This is annoying, but addictive. I'm not sure whether to thank you or not.... Every time I think I've figured it out and I get the number right, it ends up that the way I got the number right was wrong....

Sidhe

lumberjim · 06-05-2004, 12:32 AM

21 minutes

06-05-2004, 12:37 AM

my cat got it right the first time (he likes to play with the keyboard while I type). Lady Sid's post made me realize that my earlier answer might have been dumb luck, and sure enough, it was. I guess there's hope for me after all. As to my cat, he's just a dumb animal, what else can Isay?

Nothing But Net · 06-05-2004, 12:53 AM

Took me about eight tries. And I ain't dumb.

Looks like an interesting test of left/right brain capability, coordination, and balance.

wolf · 06-05-2004, 01:35 AM

About 2 seconds. Most of it spent hunting for the numbers on the keyboard.

When I first was introduced to this puzzle (in 1977, I believe) it took me about 15 minutes.

DanaC · 06-05-2004, 06:50 AM

Well I cant figure it out

xoxoxoBruce · 06-05-2004, 06:52 AM

Third try.

DanaC · 06-05-2004, 07:08 AM

I seem to have a mental block with anything to do with numbers.....I suck

wolf · 06-05-2004, 10:44 AM

The

interferes with logical reasoning.

lumberjim · 06-05-2004, 11:06 AM

i beg to differ

smoothmoniker · 06-05-2004, 11:59 AM

arrrrrghhhhhh

-sm

jaguar · 06-05-2004, 12:30 PM

god that just about caused me to pop a blood vessel, 15 minutes and 3 pieces of paper covered in models. THe problem is you need to really step back and just mull on the name for a minute.

Coders etc I think have the most hell with this.

06-04-2004, 11:33 PM	#1
hot_pastrami I am meaty Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,119	The smarter you are, the harder this is It is said that the smarter a person is, the more difficulty they have in solving this puzzle. I don't know how much truth there is in that, but it took me about 30 minutes. Dr. Richard Duke at the University of Michigan, who uses this puzzle as a demonstration in his gaming/simulation courses, took more than a year to figure it out initially. Some people solve it in mere seconds. The page has all the information you need to solve the puzzle. Don't spoil the answer for everybody else if you figure it out. Have fun! __________________ Hot Pastrami!

06-05-2004, 12:18 AM	#4
Lady Sidhe That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.... Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hammond, La. Posts: 978	Damn, I must be brilliant...I can't seem to figure it out. This is annoying, but addictive. I'm not sure whether to thank you or not.... Every time I think I've figured it out and I get the number right, it ends up that the way I got the number right was wrong.... Sidhe __________________ My free will...I never leave home without it. --House Someday I want to be rich. Some people get so rich they lose all respect for humanity. That's how rich I want to be. -Rita Rudner

06-05-2004, 12:32 AM	#5
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	21 minutes __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

06-05-2004, 01:35 AM	#8
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	About 2 seconds. Most of it spent hunting for the numbers on the keyboard. When I first was introduced to this puzzle (in 1977, I believe) it took me about 15 minutes. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

06-05-2004, 06:52 AM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Third try. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

06-04-2004, 11:42 PM	#2
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Okay...so that took about 5 minutes for me to figure out...hmmm...

06-05-2004, 12:09 AM	#3
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	OK, I must be an imbecile worthy of sterilizing (I told ya'll I had minor neurological damage!). I figured it out on the 3rd try and the first one didn't count cuz I just automatically put down the botanically correct number without looking at anything else.

06-05-2004, 12:37 AM	#6
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	my cat got it right the first time (he likes to play with the keyboard while I type). Lady Sid's post made me realize that my earlier answer might have been dumb luck, and sure enough, it was. I guess there's hope for me after all. As to my cat, he's just a dumb animal, what else can Isay?

06-05-2004, 12:53 AM	#7
Nothing But Net Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Spring, Texas Posts: 1,481	Took me about eight tries. And I ain't dumb. Looks like an interesting test of left/right brain capability, coordination, and balance.

06-05-2004, 06:50 AM	#9
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Well I cant figure it out

06-05-2004, 07:08 AM	#11
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	I seem to have a mental block with anything to do with numbers.....I suck

06-05-2004, 10:44 AM	#12
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	The interferes with logical reasoning. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

06-05-2004, 11:06 AM	#13
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	i beg to differ __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

06-05-2004, 11:59 AM	#14
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	arrrrrghhhhhh -sm

06-05-2004, 12:30 PM	#15
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	god that just about caused me to pop a blood vessel, 15 minutes and 3 pieces of paper covered in models. THe problem is you need to really step back and just mull on the name for a minute. Coders etc I think have the most hell with this. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

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