Need help from someone who actually understands computer cod

Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:31 am

There's a Minnesota puzzle I've been staring at. So far, I've been told it "involves computer code, but if I told you anymore, I'd give it away."

Who knows? The person who told me that is a software engineer, LOL. I recognize things like a series of 0s and 1s and understand how to work through those. This one is absolutely stumping me.

8*2*8*3+6*9*8*3

I don't want a straight answer, but if someone can at least tell me what I'm looking at, I can try to find out what I need to know to solve it. Thanks!

Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:41 am

Don't know code, but in straight math, that's multiply first four numbers, multiply second four numbers, add the two products together. Question

Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:47 am

Nope, not it. Tried that. Doesn't work, which is why I contacted a previous finder I know.

Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:00 pm

I'm thinking it might be written in some version of FORTRAN. I sort of kind of remember stuff like this from some required class that I barely managed to squeak past!

Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:35 pm

CodeJunkie Says - "As a programmer - this is poor programming because you're relying on the operator precedence of the language in question." "As a fellow cacher - need more info"

Can you post a link to the cache? That may provide some clues to solving this one. I would agree that by most programming standards it's multiply on both sides and then add the results (i.e. 1680).

Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 2:44 pm

That's how it looked when I was writing FORTRAN back in 1971. Do they want you to use keypunch cards to solve the puzzle for the cache, too? Rolling Eyes

Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 3:17 pm

That's a King Boreas century challenge cache in the greater Twin Cities, and what I shared is it. Seriously! For those not familiar with KB cache listings, he generally provides only a little info. No hints, just the bare minimum.

And in this case, a comment to "ask whoever gave you the solves for your 100 mystery finds!"

This is the listing....GC18B71

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 10:08 am

I havent had time to browse many of these, but you may be able to get more hints here

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?tx=40861821-1835-4e11-b666-8d41064d03fe&u=IndyMagicMan

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:05 am

Trekkin' and Birdin' wrote:

That's a King Boreas century challenge cache in the greater Twin Cities, and what I shared is it. Seriously! For those not familiar with KB cache listings, he generally provides only a little info. No hints, just the bare minimum.

And in this case, a comment to "ask whoever gave you the solves for your 100 mystery finds!"

This is the listing....GC18B71

I looked at this and gave it a whirl but only got "Incorrect" via the checker. My first thought was the left hand side was an offset to add to the North and the right hand side was an offset to add to the West. That didn't work for me.

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:14 pm

still working on it, It will come

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 7:28 pm

Possibly is is NOT base 10.

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:56 pm

With a 9, wouldn't you think it's base 10, though? I say this as if I actually understand this stuff!

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:19 pm

Could be base 11, 12, etc.

I couldn't make any sense of all the logs on this one or the other cache referenced in them. Good thing our puzzle count is only in the 70s so far...

...And that we're not that close to this cache for it to tempt us.

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 7:48 am

sandlanders wrote:

Good thing our puzzle count is only in the 70s so far...

70!!!

You need to come to the Kingdom! If for no other reason, then to do my 900 series.

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 7:50 am

BTW, after googling, I go this....

(8 * 2 * 8 * 3) + (6 * 9 * 8 * 3) = 1 680

Does the space between the 1 and 6 help?