Tristan
2006-02-22 23:32:09 |
The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
On Perplexus, there is a link to the list of unsolved puzzles. But, as many visitors might find out, the list of unsolved puzzles is filled with lots of puzzles that have already been solved. We realize that this is due to the large number of puzzles which do not have official solutions posted.
For about a month, Journeymen and scholars have been working on a project to look through all the "unsolved puzzles" and sort through them. The main motivation behind this project was to expose those few puzzles that truly have not been solved. I initiated the project, but most of the credit goes to the people who helped: Dustin, Hugo, Gamer, brianjn, and Jer. We went through the whole list of "unsolved puzzles" and sorted them into various categories, beginning with 1-15-2004 puzzles and going all the way back.
This list is not a complete one. There are actually a few that have been particularly difficult to categorize, and they may join this list later. Also, this list does not include any puzzles posted more recently than "If you break me..." on 1-15-2004. The list is not necessarily up to date.
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The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles:
Points On A Circle (in Geometry)
Posted on 2004-08-14 by ThoughtProvoker (No Solution Yet, 16 Comments)
Poker Hands (in Probability)
Posted on 2004-07-09 by Thalamus (No Solution Yet, 7 Comments)
Standing for higher powers (in Riddles)
Posted on 2005-12-31 by Enigma (No Solution Yet, 15 Comments)
The end of the game (in Numbers)
Posted on 2005-12-28 by Cory Taylor (No Solution Yet, 6 Comments)
Entangled code (in Cryptography)
Posted on 2005-12-25 by Tristan (No Solution Yet, 16 Comments)
Easily distinguished codes (in Numbers)
Posted on 2005-11-29 by Tristan (No Solution Yet, 7 Comments)
Next Numbers Please #6 (in Sequences)
Posted on 2005-09-09 by Brian Smith (No Solution Yet, 4 Comments)
Britannia Rul-ed The Waves Part 3 (in Sequences)
Posted on 2005-08-25 by sassy (No Solution Yet, 8 Comments)
Another Pattern of Numbers (in Numbers)
Posted on 2005-07-29 by Erik O. (No Solution Yet, 12 Comments)
Sequence of Letters (in Sequences)
Posted on 2005-07-15 by Dustin (No Solution Yet, 4 Comments)
Centrifugal Balance II (in General)
Posted on 2005-10-18 by Brian Smith (No Solution Yet, 25 Comments)
Pawns to stay put (in Games)
Posted on 2005-10-03 by Brian Smith (No Solution Yet, 13 Comments)
Word Meld 7 (in Word Problems)
Posted on 2005-01-22 by David Shin (No Solution Yet, 11 Comments)
Rummy Luck (in Probability)
Posted on 2005-01-07 by sassy (No Solution Yet, 9 Comments)
Splitting Heirs (in Shapes)
Posted on 2005-06-15 by Bryan (No Solution Yet, 8 Comments)
Rational sine (in Just Math)
Posted on 2005-05-02 by lmnop (No Solution Yet, 5 Comments)
Class Pass (in Probability)
Posted on 2004-06-24 by Gamer (No Solution Yet, 14 Comments)
Bird on a Wire (in Just Math)
Posted on 2004-06-07 by Sam (No Solution Yet, 39 Comments)
The Fifteen Steps (in Games)
Posted on 2004-04-26 by Gamer (No Solution Yet, 15 Comments)
(first part solution missing)
Chords and Chords (in Geometry)
Posted on 2004-03-24 by SilverKnight (No Solution Yet, 23 Comments)
Ten Colors (in General)
Posted on 2004-03-05 by Aaron (No Solution Yet, 6 Comments)
B-Palindromes (in Numbers)
Posted on 2004-02-25 by DJ (No Solution Yet, 7 Comments)
(solution in comments deemed as imcomplete)
Thirty two barbarians (in General)
Posted on 2004-01-28 by Gamer (No Solution Yet, 33 Comments)
Now let's hope none of my html went wrong with this post. |
Tristan
2006-02-22 23:48:25 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
We actually sorted the problems into several different categories. There is one other category that may be of interest to visitors of this forum: "Open-ended - it is unclear whether it has been solved". I wrote the category description, so any credit/blame goes to me for thinking up the concept.
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The List of "Open-ended" Puzzles
A Point and a Cube (in Geometry)
Posted on 2004-07-16 by Brian Smith (No Solution Yet, 22 Comments)
Tin Can Company (in General)
Posted on 2004-11-12 by SilverKnight (No Solution Yet, 11 Comments)
Synograms (in Word Problems)
Posted on 2005-08-17 by Erik O. (No Solution Yet, 13 Comments)
Prisoner's Dilemma (in Games)
Posted on 2005-10-06 by Gamer (No Solution Yet, 8 Comments)
Most Letters 2 (in Word Problems)
Posted on 2005-01-20 by Juggler (No Solution Yet, 13 Comments)
Parking Cars (in Probability)
Posted on 2004-07-01 by SilverKnight (No Solution Yet, 14 Comments)
(Solution insight link, but the problem itself is unsolved in general)
my house's number (in Numbers)
Posted on 2004-06-21 by Ady TZIDON (No Solution Yet, 29 Comments)
(Solutions provided (see 26-28) but they are still a lot of brute force)
The Conversing Club 3 (in General)
Posted on 2004-03-28 by Gamer (No Solution Yet, 61 Comments)
(Much thought has put into this but I don’t think it has been solved)
Toggler and Triggler (in Games)
Posted on 2004-03-12 by levik (No Solution Yet, 8 Comments)
(The 4x4 cases are solved but not the general case)
Happy Birthday (2) (in Probability)
Posted on 2004-03-11 by SilverKnight (No Solution Yet, 4 Comments)
(It is commented there is a better way than a simulation, but no realistic method is given)
Icin' the Tea (in Logic)
Posted on 2004-03-09 by FatBoy (No Solution Yet, 35 Comments)
(TomM presents concerns about the solution given, but it’s unclear if they are large or small)
The Conversing Club 4 (in General)
Posted on 2004-05-21 by Gamer (No Solution Yet, 5 Comments)
(Solution given but no method of solving is shown)
Sum Rotation (in Numbers)
Posted on 2004-05-11 by Gamer (No Solution Yet, 16 Comments)
(There are some observations, but no methods other than brute force have been posted)
Again, I may add to this list later, after we have decided how to categorize the 30+ puzzles that sorters found difficult to sort.
There are 23 truly unsolved puzzles and 13 in the "open-ended" category. Are these numbers surprising? |
Vernon Lewis
2006-02-23 01:43:10 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
Congratulations and thankyou Tristan, Dustin, Hugo, Gamer, brianjn, and Jer. You have done a fantastic job on this project.
Now the challenge is on to all of the interested Perplexus faithful to try to "Solve the Unsolved." 23 and 13 to go ... and counting.
Readers are plentiful; thinkers are rare. - Harriet Martineau |
goFish
2006-02-24 06:13:51 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
I agree with Vernon. Great work. |
Gamer
2006-02-24 23:52:51 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
I think The Highest Grade is unsolved in the general case; the specific numbers for that problem are solved. |
brianjn
2006-02-25 07:37:43 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
So? Are you saying that it should have been classified differently? |
Tristan
2006-02-25 11:03:34 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
If anyone has something to add to this list, or thinks that anything should be taken off (either because of an incorrect categorization or because of a recent solution) please say so here. |
Tristan
2006-02-25 11:32:12 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
To start, "Sequence of Letters" by Dustin should be taken off the list. |
Hugo
2006-02-25 12:14:57 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
The conversing club 3, I gave a seating arragement and a method to construct it, which was what the problem asked for, so, what is missing? |
goFish
2006-02-25 13:16:29 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
A point and a cube - The comments on this are a bit of a shambles because the problem was edited after going public.
There are various numerical solutions which are difficult to follow because they use different coordinate systems and solve different versions of the problem. The only algebraic solution posted is corrupted and Charlie was unable to compare it with his own.
I have just posted an algebraic solution but would appreciate someone (Charlie?) comparing it with the previous. |
Tristan
2006-02-25 15:12:18 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
Gamer himself sorted The conversing club 3, so you might want to ask him about it. |
Tristan
2006-02-25 15:33:16 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
"The end of the game" is to be taken off, seeing as how the official solution has been posted.
After a while, I will post an updated version of the list. I just found out this cool way to list a bunch of puzzles. Check this out. Of course, that's not the updated list, but I could potentially link to any list this way. |
Gamer
2006-02-25 15:46:19 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
Oh, I thought it was unsolved and didn't want to go through the comments, can you give me a link to your comments? |
Mindrod
2006-02-25 17:24:13 |
Re: Tristan "this"
Nice, but "Five Fives" is actually solved. Only the extended, "unofficial" problem developed through the comments can be considered a work in progress.
Oh wait...I see you are demonstrating the use of the linking method, not actually building a list of unsolved puzzles. Very interesting. What made you think of this? |
Gamer
2006-02-25 17:58:42 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
That is pretty cool! I didn't know you could do that |
brianjn
2006-02-25 19:38:38 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
Tristan, neat; took a bit to understand had two unrelated puzzles came up on the same page. Does Java/Javascript allow 'wild cards'? |
Tristan
2006-02-26 01:32:07 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
Well, if you click on the "most commented on" search, the url contains all the information. It has a label, and then it lists all the pids of the problems that the search found. I just manipulate the url, and it gives any list I want. Apparently, this is something Levik had already programmed in so it could be used by his search link. He also did something similar with the "New replies" search. Neat, huh? Now if only I had thought of it before posting this list! |
Hugo
2006-02-26 12:39:14 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
Ga |
Hugo
2006-02-26 12:39:15 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
Ga |
Hugo
2006-02-26 12:39:45 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
Gamer, the TCC3 solution is on
http://perplexus.info/show.php?pid=1559&cid=17966 |
Gamer
2006-02-26 16:01:54 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
So it looks like you solved it, but the solution isn't understandable for someone who is just looking at it right now without reading the rest of the comments. Keep in mind that in a tough problem like this, the reason your method works is also important.
If you want to write the solution that is fine with me, but I would also be willing to write it or look at it too. |
Tristan
2006-02-26 19:53:55 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
Gamer, when you say, "the solution isn't understandable for someone who is just looking at it right now," I think that purpose is meant to be fulfilled by the official solution. |
Gamer
2006-02-26 20:56:58 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
That's good, I just didn't want the solution to consist of a link to that thread. :) |
brianjn
2006-02-27 02:53:33 |
Re: The List of Truly Unsolved Puzzles
Gamer, you are the author; while you still have control, might I suggest that you look at Hugo's offering, make an "official translation of it", swap an email or two with Hugo, and ... agree to an official posting.
(PS:- I have been watching particular item for sometime. I had realised that the solution should have been posted - I did wonder why the 'limbo' time. --- Tristan, this project may be able to make many of us a little more aware of this site can offer). |
goFish
2006-02-27 05:25:26 |
Happy Birthday 3
Comments/solution added. Richard gave the pointer to the solution by way of links but I guess we want something more substantial. |
goFish
2006-02-27 13:35:32 |
Point and cube
Yep. My pure solution agrees with Charlie's numerical. Neither agree with Brian's. |
Tristan
2006-02-27 19:40:04 |
More announcements
As I said earlier, "The main motivation behind this project was to expose those few puzzles that truly have not been solved." The other motivation behind the project was so that we could post the official solutions to many problems that are ready for it.
There were several different categories for varying degrees of readiness for posting the official solution. Some don't have any official solution written yet. Some don't have complete official solutions. But some are ready to go this moment.
Starting Wednesday, I will start to post the official solutions of the puzzles in that last category. The solutions will be posted at the rate of 22 a week: 4 each weekday and 2 on Saturdays. This rate is subject to change.
Yes, this means that I will be posting the solutions to other author's problems, and that may include yours. If you have signed on recently, I will try to contact you if possible to warn you. But if you have an issue, you should contact me just in case. You may post your concern in this thread, or better yet, you can leave a note under the official solution. So that you have plenty of time to voice your concerns, I will start by posting the solutions of problems written by members that are no longer active. |
tomarken
2006-03-01 20:40:12 |
Britannia Rul-ed the Waves Part 3
...has been solved! This list is wonderful, especially for a newbie like myself. It's really great being able to find all these truly unsolved puzzles. Keep up the great work guys! |