Puzzle Definition and 618 Threads

A puzzle is a game, problem, or toy that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge. In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together in a logical way, in order to arrive at the correct or fun solution of the puzzle. There are different genres of puzzles, such as crossword puzzles, word-search puzzles, number puzzles, relational puzzles, and logic puzzles.
Puzzles are often created to be a form of entertainment but they can also arise from serious mathematical or logical problems. In such cases, their solution may be a significant contribution to mathematical research.

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  1. W

    Welding Detached Retinas with Lasers: Solving the Puzzle

    I do not know how to do the second part of this question. I never learned this. A laser used to weld detached retinas puts out pulses of 640 nm light, 25 ms long, which average 0.50 W output during a pulse. i) how much energy can be deposited pre pulse? ii) If the energy of a light...
  2. P

    Chem+Physics: Solving the Piston Puzzle

    this is my webassign question for this week but I'm a little confused about the first part... for part a) shouldn't the ratio just be 1 to 1, since the piston is exactly in the center?? or did i understand that wrong? I'm not all that great at chem especially when it comes to chem and physics...
  3. C

    Logic Puzzle: Finding the Appropriate Suffix for a Number

    Hi, its my first post, so don't be too hard on me. Here's my dilemma: I'm trying to write a computer program, to return a number with it's apropriate suffix. (ie: 1=1st, 2=2nd, 3=3rd, etc.) Forget the programming aspect for a minute, all I'm interested in is the logic. If X=answer, I can...
  4. B

    Solving the Puzzle: Ann and Mary's Ages

    Can anyone solve this puzzle that a friend sent to me? When Ann is half as old as Mary will be when Mary is three times as old as Mary is now. Mary will be five times as old as Ann is now. Neither Ann nor Mary may vote. How old is Ann?
  5. M

    What Is the Puzzle on Goth1337's Page?

    It's been bugging me http://goth1337.tripod.com/puzzle.tga
  6. Mk

    How Does Moon Dust Exist Without Weathering?

    How can there be dust on the moon if there is no weathering whatsoever? I'm going insane over it.
  7. P

    Help Solve Puzzle: (n!)^3 n = {1-99}

    Problem: (n!)^3 n = {1-99} How many digit is the resulting (n!)^3 ? Attempted solution: \Sigma^{99}_{n=1} (n!)^3 = (\Sigma^{99}_{n=1} (n!))^3 = 99(\frac{1!^3 - 99!^3}{2}) =~ 470 digits. But they say it's wrong. Please help.
  8. Greg Bernhardt

    I have a huge jigsaw puzzle to assemble

    I have a huge jigsaw puzzle to assemble. I start by looking through the pieces and see if there are pairs I can join. Then, I look through the pairs and see what other pieces I can add on. The size of my assembled pieces grows and their number shrinks. I am using the algorithmic paradigm called...
  9. M

    Physics Puzzle: Can You Reach 100 Pascals with 3 Bottles and a Pump?

    Consider the following: You are in a room containing an 3 empty metal bottles. Each bottle is equipped with a valve which when open connects the interior of the bottle to the room, and when shut seals the bottle. You also have a pump that can generate an air pressure of 10 Pascals. It...
  10. Greg Bernhardt

    How Are the Letters Arranged on Mad Ade's Nephew's Blocks?

    Mad Ade was looking after his two year old Nephew (He charges two Kebabs an hour if you are in need of a babysitter). His Nephew had 4 play blocks each with 6 sides. Each side has a letter from the alphabet. No letters are ever repeated. By arranging the blocks in different ways Mad Ade's...
  11. M

    Physics Puzzle: The Rear of a Bicycle & the Front of a Car

    In Ireland, 16 year olds are expected to answer this question at some point during the leaving cert physics course. I’m finding it difficult to answer. Can anyone help me here? Ah, nothing like sharing wisdom... The rear of a bicycle passes a point P on a road and travels at a steady speed of...
  12. J

    Who is the liar in this logic puzzle?

    This one I read but is so good I wanted to post it reworded. Two groups of people live on this planet, pure liars and pure truth tellers. I went to a philosophy party(never mind that it's impossible) and met 3 people. The first says something but I don't catch it, the second one replies, "he...
  13. J

    Maths Quiz: Solve the Surd Puzzle

    Okay Maths quiz! normal rules apply (first to answer question correctly gets to ask the next question, etc.): 1) √(5 + √(24)) = ? in exact surd form
  14. S

    How can you identify one of the three cards as an ace with just one question?

    Noting their locations I place two aces and a jack face down on a table in a row. You do not see which card is placed where. Your problem is to point to one of the cards and ask me a sinlge yes or no question, from the answer to which you can, with certainty, identify one of the three cards as...
  15. B

    How can you sell apples equally among three sons with the same procedure?

    hi! I've got a puzzle.can u solve it?here it is: a father has 90 apples.he has 3 children: A,B,and C.one day, the father told his children this: Come here A, sell this 50 apples with the same procedure like your 2 brothers that result the same income Come here B, sell this 30 apples with...
  16. M

    Solve the Hardest Puzzle Ever: Who is the Engineer?

    "hardest puzzle ever" today i ran across this puzzle: -------------------- ON a train Smith, Jones, and Robinson are the fireman, brakeman, and engineer, but NOT respectivly. Also aboard are three business men who have the same names: a Mr. Smith, a Mr. Jones, and a Mr. Robinson...
  17. E

    Mathematica Greatest Mathematical Puzzle of the modern age?

    What is the greatest Mathematical puzzle that is unsolved? and why?
  18. V

    How Many Samsung Phones Fit in the Leg Room of a BMW Z4?

    one needs to estimate or calculate how many cellular phones can fill the front seat's leg room of a BMW Z4 (Only the leg room of both the front seats and not on the seats)- a range of Samsung handsets are filled up to the seat level only, I believe their is a scientific way of determining...
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