Article on problem solving.

[gamey]

I looked at the answer.  I always think there is some hack/cheat.  I wonder how long it would have taken me to get it.. lol.

Ha ha! Now you'll never know how long it would've taken you. Do you think it's a good puzzle?

Yes, a very good puzzle.  The answer isn't some hack etc. If I had known the answer is legitimate, I would have never looked at the solution. My problem is I suspect it might be some semantic backdoor nonsense, so I end up not wishing to waste my time.

[yvv]

I'd like to leave this here:

[hadrian]

I looked at the answer.  I always think there is some hack/cheat.  I wonder how long it would have taken me to get it.. lol.

Ha ha! Now you'll never know how long it would've taken you. Do you think it's a good puzzle?


edit:

steem it !

Maybe I will post it on Steemit once it's up and running. I can't remember where I got it from now - I'd have to search it. I can't even remember the answer, so I'm gonna think about it now!

[liondani]

steem it !

[gamey]

I looked at the answer.  I always think there is some hack/cheat.  I wonder how long it would have taken me to get it.. lol.

[hadrian]

Anyone fancy having a go at solving this problem? It's a good'un!

If you use a search engine you're cheating nobody but yourself!

The warden meets with 23 new prisoners when they arrive. He tells them, "You may meet today and plan a strategy. But after today, you will be in isolated cells and will have no communication with one another.

"In the prison is a switch room, which contains two light switches labeled 1 and 2, each of which can be in either up or the down position. I am not telling you their present positions. The switches are not connected to anything.

"After today, from time to time whenever I feel so inclined, I will select one prisoner at random and escort him to the switch room. This prisoner will select one of the two switches and reverse its position. He must flip one switch when he visits the switch room, and may only flip one of the switches. Then he'll be led back to his cell.

"No one else will be allowed to alter the switches until I lead the next prisoner into the switch room. I'm going to choose prisoners at random. I may choose the same guy three times in a row, or I may jump around and come back. I will not touch the switches, if I wanted you dead you would already be dead.

"Given enough time, everyone will eventually visit the switch room the same number of times as everyone else. At any time, anyone may declare to me, 'We have all visited the switch room.'

"If it is true, then you will all be set free. If it is false, and somebody has not yet visited the switch room, you will all die horribly. You will be carefully monitored, and any attempt to break any of these rules will result in instant death to all of you"

What is the strategy they come up with so that they can be free?

[hadrian]

I read your post a couple of days ago, and have just seen that you've had no reply. I read the article to which you linked and it was interesting - thanks!

This is going off at somewhat of a tangent, but just before seeing your post I had come across this problem/puzzle which I found fun.

It's number 6, The Warden on this link: http://www.folj.com/puzzles/very-difficult-analytical-puzzles.htm

The warden meets with 23 new prisoners when they arrive. He tells them, "You may meet today and plan a strategy. But after today, you will be in isolated cells and will have no communication with one another.

"In the prison is a switch room, which contains two light switches labeled 1 and 2, each of which can be in either up or the down position. I am not telling you their present positions. The switches are not connected to anything.

"After today, from time to time whenever I feel so inclined, I will select one prisoner at random and escort him to the switch room. This prisoner will select one of the two switches and reverse its position. He must flip one switch when he visits the switch room, and may only flip one of the switches. Then he'll be led back to his cell.

"No one else will be allowed to alter the switches until I lead the next prisoner into the switch room. I'm going to choose prisoners at random. I may choose the same guy three times in a row, or I may jump around and come back. I will not touch the switches, if I wanted you dead you would already be dead.

"Given enough time, everyone will eventually visit the switch room the same number of times as everyone else. At any time, anyone may declare to me, 'We have all visited the switch room.'

"If it is true, then you will all be set free. If it is false, and somebody has not yet visited the switch room, you will all die horribly. You will be carefully monitored, and any attempt to break any of these rules will result in instant death to all of you"

What is the strategy they come up with so that they can be free?

[gamey]

http://rs.io/2014/02/21/problem-solving.html

I found this very interesting and usually I find blog postings meh.  This is all about the science/art of problem solving. 

Apparently known to programmers but not to me is the idea of "rubber ducking".  That is talking a problem to someone else can change perspective enough to bring about a solution.  I've noticed this in life.  It is called rubber ducking because the same effect could be had while talking to your rubber duck. (Need to get my childhood teddy bear out of the attic)

I haven't written anything truly challenging in years, but LETS GET SOME DAC TOOLKITS OUT THERE.