Need help from someone who actually understands computer cod

[Trekkin and Birdin]

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!

[sandlanders]

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

[Trekkin and Birdin]

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

[Trekkin and Birdin]

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!

[CodeJunkie]

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).

[sandlanders]

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? 🙄

[Trekkin and Birdin]

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

[TheBalks]

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

[CodeJunkie]

@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.

[2CraziesMSN]

still working on it, It will come

[marc_54140]

Possibly is is NOT base 10.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

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

[sandlanders]

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.

[marc_54140]

@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.

[marc_54140]

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?

[Author]

Posts