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[AUZ505]

Re: Q18

[Adventurik]

Q18

[AUZ505]

So the theory that the three number code is connected to the second line is wrong. Nevertheless up to now we have only these codes:
223
322
232

If this is a medium reated puzzle, what will the difficult ones look like

[Adventurik]

Below the picture of the keyboard keys, it says, "difficult".
Here's a wierd idea: Maybe the keys and codes are a smokescreen, and all it needs is the source of the quote. Like Darwin or something. Kinda doubt it though.

[kie_yeo]

The link AUZ put up on the previous page shows it was part of a book called "The Outline of Science" written by J Arthur Thomson. Maybe there's a link but i can't see it.

[magnet0]

I noticed that the first 3 numbers allow you to break up the number sets.

[Adventurik]

Hmmm....not bad.
I've been toying around with the keys. There are 10 of them. I visualized them representing the number pad, and substituting the bottom row of symbols with their numbers. But I think I was doing them upside down. Maybe the bottom row of arrow keys would be 123, the lone up arrow is 0, then the top 2 rows would be the top number pad rows, 789 and 456. And then substitute the matching numbers in the key symbols in the bottom row on the cipher. I am at work now and can't play with it much.

[kie_yeo]

Some further thoughts: The way the diagram is set out looks like the layout of a standard keyboard (i've only just noticed this as i've been on my laptop all week). i.e. The arrow keys are themselves, but the 6 keys above are insert ($), home (?), page up (+), delete ({), end (^), page down (}). In all of our codings only three of these are used - home, end and delete. This would allow for some manipulation of the code, obviously page up/down would carry no weight, and perhaps insert was omitted as it may or may not already be turned on.

That was a bit long winded, hope that makes sense

Also, why is begining spelt without a double n? Is that the way you Americans spell it? Is it a typo? Is it intentional? Am i looking into this too deeply? lol

EDIT: A further also, everybody has a single ^ and a single ? in their code. Chance?

[Adventurik]

"Begining" is definitely a typo. I think he's had other typos too. Whether intentional is yet to be seen.

[magnet0]

So I've already used up .17 IP's on trying to figure this one out (Q18, 'Difficult'). Here is how I've been tackling it:

First, break apart each number using the 3 digit code as such.

322 123456789123 1234 9876543210

becomes

123 456 789 123 _ 12 34 _ 98 76 54 32 10
(we will use the space between the sets of numbers so I have used an underscore as a place holder)

Each number now represents a 'character'. Not sure yet how this decodes, but just follow along. We use the 'directions' to isolate and delete numbers. The arrows represent direction, the left curly brace represents 'delete' the question mark represents 'home' and the caret represents 'end'. If there is a number before an arrow or curly brace, perform that function as many times as the number specifies. If there is no number before an arrow or left curly brace, 1 is implied.

So, if the directions were: { 2 -> 3 { ^ 4 <- 2 { ? 3 -> 2 {
we'd...
delete '123'
move past '456' and '789'
delete '123', '_', and '12'
jump to the end
backup past '10', '32', '54', and '76'
delete '76' and '54'
jump to the beginning
move forward past '456', '789', and '34'
delete '_' and '98'
leaving
456 789 32 10

This method has worked for all posted sequences so far (if you utilize the space between the original numbers). But I have not been able to make sense of what the numbers represent.

Stats on the excerpt: 47 words, 221 chars (269 with spaces)

[EDIT]: disabled html to format correctly

[kie_yeo]

Yes, that does seem to work very nicely for all the codes so far listed - no wasted symbols, even the 8 fits in. For the benefit of others, i've worked out what coding we get left with

26 57 23 12 (AUZ)

37 28 136 151 234 (Adventurik)

187 33 23 37 (Adventurik2)

22 17 57 194 (Magnet0)

25 24 57 194 (Me)

I think you're onto something with this, but i can't see where to go next

[TheIllustratedMan]

That's exactly what I was doing, but can't figure where to go from there. parts of it could be ascii codes in some base, other parts could be a direct num->alpha code, but none of it would be consistent. You'd need some arbitrary rule like "if the number is an ascii code in hex or octal, use ascii, otherwise do a straight-up num->alpha. if none of those work, multiply by two and try again."

so, probably just totally missing the point here.

[magnet0]

If it's any consolation, Q23 is now available and it looks like no one has managed to pass Q18, yet. Looks like the top leaders are lurking or using bogus accounts to see if the can solve this and protect their lead.

[Adventurik]

Wow, Magneto & Kie! Excellent! I've been computer-disabled for the past 24 hours so this is my first look at your work. All this time I was trying to make sense of the code applied to the quote. I've got to check this out.

[Adventurik]

kie,
I can't quite come out with your figures for my illustration.

My second one (posted above) divides to
37 17 26 85 22 28 14 17 22 _28 48_212 136 151 194 253 234

the directions are ->4{^3<2>8{

begin at 37
move right one to 17
delete 17 26 85 22
go to end 234
move back 3 to 151
delete 151 194
go home to 37
move right (to the next available number?) 28
delete 28 14 17 22 _ 28 48 _
this leaves 37 212 136 253 234

Did I do anything wrong?