#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)

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#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)

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#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	01/03/2007 18:58:25

mindcandy
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Please use this thread for discussion about this card.

#1368

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	07/03/2007 17:26:17

Dispatches
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Any one got any tips for this its driving me nuts,

I've put what I've done below so as not to spoil it for anyone else:

Spoiler: (highlight to read)

so far I've created a spreadsheet witht he following columns, n, n squared, 3/4 n squared. the final column should be the answer I think but it needs to be a cubed number. I don't know any way to check this other than checking visually between a list of cubed numbers and the final coumn of my spreadsheet

but so far I haven't found a match

#1369

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	07/03/2007 17:31:47

endlessDelirium

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I read somewhere else that working backwards is best/easiest. That said, i've still not answered the card.

#1388

Re: #135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	07/03/2007 18:44:29

Errabee
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Big hint:

Spoiler: (highlight to read)

Suppose the wanted number is x. Then 3x must be a square, so the square can be decomposed as (3n)(3n). N must be even, otherwise you cannot have a quarter leaving, which means the square can be decomposed as (3*2*m)(3*2*m). X is then 2*m*3*2*m, one quarter of that is 3*m*m, which must be a cube. So the cube contains a factor 3, which means the number to be cubed must also contain a factor 3.

#1433

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	07/03/2007 21:31:16

Dispatches
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Thanks endlessDelirium. I worked backwards and found the answer within 10 minutes, man I'm happy.

Thanks for the attempt at help Errabee but I couldn't even understand the tip

#1443

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	07/03/2007 22:00:48

endlessDelirium

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Glad to help... shame I can't help myself

I thought I had the answer but the computer says no...

#1453

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	07/03/2007 22:58:12

Errabee
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Dispatches wrote:

Thanks for the attempt at help Errabee but I couldn't even understand the tip

I'll make things simpler: The last number talked about in the puzzle is a cube (and I assume you know what cubes are all about; the cube of 2 is 8; the cube of 3 is 27 etc).

Now here's the simple tip:

Spoiler: (highlight to read)

The base number that has to be cubed has to be a multiple of 3. The original number of cats in the herd is then 4/3 * the cube of this number. Try working from there (backwards), to comply with the other limitations set by the puzzle.

#1460

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	08/03/2007 00:35:07

icatsai
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*sigh* math was never my strongpoint.
I'll keep trying though

---
"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning"

#1646

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	09/03/2007 10:19:49

Lord Harding
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I solved in the same way as Errabee and his/her hints are good ones. I like solving ones like these the 'maths' way rather than the brute force way but the points all count the same!

#1743

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	10/03/2007 01:57:33

g4fmw
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can someone tell me why this answer is wrong?

Spoiler: (highlight to read)

12 -- it is a third of a square and 3/4 of it is a cube

Thanks

#1744

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	10/03/2007 02:01:54

g4fmw
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sorry guys ignore that last message ... it's too late in the day and my brain is fried.

#1779

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	10/03/2007 12:43:04

Agent Lex
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Don't worry, you're hardly the only one to make that mistake

#1808

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	10/03/2007 18:47:02

stoomoo
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Ok I am puzzled as to why may answer using the methods described above:
62208 doesn't work. .. this was the first number I arrived at by following the method above.

62208 is one third of 186624 .. this is the square of 432.
Lose a quarter from 62208 and yuo get 46656... this is 36 cubed.

So it matches the rhyme.

Why is it not working .. have i gone too far with my number?

#1813

#135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	10/03/2007 19:05:59

Agent Lex
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Yep, that number is a bit too high. To narrow things down...

Spoiler: (highlight to read)

The answer is below 1000

#1827

Re: #135 - Cats of Harbin (blue dice)	10/03/2007 20:11:22

gnetikflop
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While I know that this thread is focused on solving the card, I cant help but make an assumption on something from the back. (preface: it is still way to early to know anything about what is going to happen for sure).

On the stories site intro movie, when the newscast breaks in the lady reporter identifies herself as Alice Maker (could be Marker, my silly american accent confuses me here). And judging by her reaction to the information and pictures she receives, she knows the person killed at the bar. Any possible relation then to Wendy Maker, the dead lady mentioned on the back of the card? To early to speculate?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I have an annoucement. Jesus was black, Ronald Reagan was the devil, and the government is lying to you about 9-11." Riley - The Boondocks

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