OT - Numbers puzzle

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Chubby, on his return to the FOFC forums
Good to be back, tho I don't see any of QS's puzzles.

Just for Chubby – here is a new puzzle…

Generally, I frown upon "complete the series" puzzles -- but I like this one, and it's not exactly as simple as the same-ol' same-ol'. We'll see how it goes over here...

You will receive below a series of numbers, placed carefully in order. However, there are some numbers missing from the series. It is up to you to determine what numbers are missing, and where they should be inserted into the ordered list.

Here is the list:

30, 90, 42, 83, 33, 97, 40, 80, 41, 74, 39, 95, 34, 84, 42, 88, 39, 77, 29, 98, 40, 75, 42, 71, 31, 91, 36, 96, 30, 98, 35, 98, 47, 122, 33, 112, 47, 123, 40, 75, 34, 84, 42, 88, 30, 90, 41, 74, 40, 75,39, 77, 39, 77


Good luck.


(edit - remedied my omitted pair of numbers, as detailed below)

[Easy Mac]

2/3

[Chubby]

YAY!

Of course I won't get it right but that's ok.


ummmmm the number 3 is missing righhhhhhhht there!

[Celeval]

Well, the numbers seem to be in paired steps of some kind. Perhaps locations on a grid?

30 90
42 83
33 97
40 80
41 74
39 95
34 84
42 88
39 77
29 98
40 75
42 71
31 91
36 96
30 98
35 98
47 122
33 112
47 123
40 75
34 84
42 88
30 90
41 74
39 77
39 77

[QuikSand]

Hmmmm... maybe it was the weekend. Maybe it was the new game release. Maybe it was just a lousy puzzle.

Time will tell.

[Celeval]

Gridding them out didn't seem to work so well.

Rushing performances?

[QuikSand]

uh, bump?

Gee, and I actually invested a little time into this one, too...

[Chubby]

I never said I was any good at them, just that I liked them

Hmm.. it seems that there's a pattern that begins with 30 90 and ends with 39 77 that repeats 3 times with numbers missing in the middle...

[albionmoonlight]

Q1.) Does the line break mean anything, or is that just the screensize?

Q2.), which is actually a request for a hint. Is this the complete series, or does it go on?

[QuikSand]

The linebreak is simply a function of screen size. In fact, the presentation by Celeval above might be more useful.

The list is finite -- there are missing elements, and you should be able (eventually) to determine what they are, and where they go to complete the whole series.

[QuikSand]

The numbers are, as you might guess, not the product of a purely mathematical function.

[QuikSand]

Hmmm.

Well, for anyone who might have any interest, here's another hint.

Yes, the numbers are "paired up" - and in fact each pair has a certain characteristic. Notice (in Celeval's list above) how each pair's first value is in a fairly tight grouping? Lowest is 29, highest is 47 -- nothing outside that range. The second number in each pair is also in a certain range -- a little broader, but 71 to 123, it seems.

Each pair of numbers corresponds to something. Once you get that, then you must determine what got them into that order. Then, you will be able to figure out what numbers are missing (hopefully).


Wow, after a number of too-easy puzzles, maybe I'm outthinking myself in trying to give you all a challenge. Not much happening on this one.

[VPI97]

Well, so far they seem to be latitude/longitude values that loosely correspond to major U.S. cities.

30 90  - New Orleans, LA
42 83  - Detroit, MI
33 97  - Dallas, TX
40 80  - Pittsburgh, PA
41 74  - New York, NY

I'll finish up the list shortly...

[cuervo72]

I'd check for NFL cities - Arizona is 33 112 for example, Atlanta 34 84. I think you've got it VPI, find the 6 teams that aren't there. The city editor utility is handy here

edit: Baltimore and Washington are both 38 77...

[VPI97]

Well, there are some repeats and some non-"major league" cities that I think associated with these numbers...

30 90  - New Orleans, LA
42 83  - Detroit, MI
33 97  - Dallas, TX
40 80  - Pittsburgh, PA
41 74  - New York, NY
39 95  - Kansas City, MO
34 84  - Atlanta, GA
42 88  - Chicago, IL
39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD
29 98  - Austin, TX
40 75  - Philadelphia, PA
42 71  - Boston, MA
31 91  - Baton Rouge, LA
36 96  - Tulsa, OK
30 98  - San Antonio, TX
35 98  - Oklahoma City, OK
47 122 - Seattle, WA
33 112 - Phoenix, AZ
47 123 - Olympia, WA
40 75  - Philadelphia, PA
34 84  - Atlanta, GA
42 88  - Chicago, IL
30 90  - New Orleans, LA
41 74  - New York, NY
39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD
39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD

Any thoughts?

[QuikSand]

30 90  - New Orleans, LA
42 83  - Detroit, MI
33 97  - Dallas, TX
40 80  - Pittsburgh, PA
41 74  - New York, NY
39 95  - Kansas City, MO
34 84  - Atlanta, GA
42 88  - Chicago, IL
39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD
29 98  - Austin, TX  ***
40 75  - Philadelphia, PA
42 71  - Boston, MA
31 91  - Baton Rouge, LA
36 96  - Tulsa, OK
30 98  - San Antonio, TX ***
35 98  - Oklahoma City, OK
47 122 - Seattle, WA
33 112 - Phoenix, AZ
47 123 - Olympia, WA ***
40 75  - Philadelphia, PA
34 84  - Atlanta, GA
42 88  - Chicago, IL
30 90  - New Orleans, LA
41 74  - New York, NY
39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD
39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD

I have put an asterisk on cities above that don't correspond to the list that I used to generate the numbers. Since, as you put it, the coordinates are "loose" I had to do some rounding in a few places... and I don't want that inaccuracy to slow down your progress.

PLUS, I now realize that I made one unintended omission from my list. It's still conceivable that you could solve the whole puzzle without it (and just include that as one more missing number set) but in keeping with the design of the rest of the puzzle, please add another

40 75 - Philadelphia, PA

as the third-from-last entry on the list.

So, with modifications from above, here is what you have accurate so far:

30 90  - New Orleans, LA
42 83  - Detroit, MI
33 97  - Dallas, TX
40 80  - Pittsburgh, PA
41 74  - New York, NY
39 95  - Kansas City, MO
34 84  - Atlanta, GA
42 88  - Chicago, IL
39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD
29 98  - 
40 75  - Philadelphia, PA
42 71  - Boston, MA
31 91  - Baton Rouge, LA
36 96  - Tulsa, OK
30 98  - 
35 98  - Oklahoma City, OK
47 122 - Seattle, WA
33 112 - Phoenix, AZ
47 123 - 
40 75  - Philadelphia, PA
34 84  - Atlanta, GA
42 88  - Chicago, IL
30 90  - New Orleans, LA
41 74  - New York, NY
40 75  - Philadelphia, PA
39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD
39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD

Good work so far... there's one more significant breakthrough yet to come, of course.

[Huckleberry]

So did he just get San Antonio and Austin backwards? Clearly Austin should be at a higher latitude.

So switch SA and Austin on his list.

And change Olympia to Tacoma.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Huckleberry
So did he just get San Antonio and Austin backwards? Clearly Austin should be at a higher latitude.

So switch SA and Austin on his list.

And change Olympia to Tacoma.

Correct on all counts. You have your list of cities now.

[sterlingice]

While googling, many of these cities were on the page "Strip Clubs - The Ultimate Strip Club List".

Anyways, if it is to be googled, don't forget- they only allow 10 words. Also, exclude some large cities not on the list (only one or two, tho, since it could be in the future sequence).

SI

[VPI97]

Thought - Since they're in a specific order and features duplicates, it could be an itinerary of some sort.

I'd say all of these are either MLB or Triple A cities...Mike Morgan's career stops?

[QuikSand]

Here is a hint - I don't think it will be a giveaway:

The long list is in fact multiple smaller lists bunched together. Each smaller list is still there, in order, but is itself missing one element (pair of numbers). So to solve this, you need to figure out:

-how (generally) did I come up with the lists of cities?
-specifically, where does each list come from?
-figure out what is missing from each smaller list?
-(technically) find the numbers to match up with each missing city

[Huckleberry]

I thought of baseball teams and AAA affiliates also.

However, Austin does not have a AAA team, but there is a AA team in Round Rock that will become a AAA team next year I think. Round Rock is a suburb of Austin that most likely shares its coordinates.

[Huckleberry]

Well, with New Orleans and Detroit at the top, I thought it might be a ranking of murder rates.

[QuikSand]

Here is a filled-in, ordered list for you to work with. (You still need to resolve the DC/Baltimore issues, of course)

30 90  - New Orleans, LA
42 83  - Detroit, MI
33 97  - Dallas, TX
40 80  - Pittsburgh, PA
41 74  - New York, NY
39 95  - Kansas City, MO
34 84  - Atlanta, GA
42 88  - Chicago, IL

39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD
29 98  - San Antonio, TX
40 75  - Philadelphia, PA
42 71  - Boston, MA
31 91  - Baton Rouge, LA
36 96  - Tulsa, OK
30 98  - Austin, TX
35 98  - Oklahoma City, OK
47 122 - Seattle, WA

33 112 - Phoenix, AZ
47 123 - Tacoma, WA
40 75  - Philadelphia, PA
34 84  - Atlanta, GA

42 88  - Chicago, IL
30 90  - New Orleans, LA
41 74  - New York, NY
40 75  - Philadelphia, PA
39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD
39 77  - Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD

[sterlingice]

EDIT: Well, never mind then, since Quik just divied the list up above

SI

[albionmoonlight]

"I went from Phoenix, AZ all the way to Tacoma, Philadelphia, Atlanta, LA"

[albionmoonlight]

Dola--

I think that Los Angeles (and it coordinates) should go after Atlanta, GA.

I also think that song lyrics are going to be important to solve the rest of these.

[sterlingice]

How about "42 83" for a guess?

SI

[Bee]

Two other songs that might apply

"Heart of Rock and Roll" - 2nd list?

"Dancing in the Streets" -?

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by sterlingice
How about "42 83" for a guess?

That looks good, too.

[Bee]

D.C., San Antone and the Liberty town, Boston and Baton Rouge
Tulsa, Austin, Oklahoma City, Seattle, San Francisco, too
- Heart of Rock and Roll

[sterlingice]

Ok, so here are out first two songs:

Rock’n Me
The Steve Miller Band
- written by Steve Miller

Well I've been lookin' real hard
And I'm tryin' to find a job
But it just keeps gettin' tougher every day
But I got to do my part cause I know in my heart
I got to please my sweet baby, yeah

Well, I ain't superstitious
And I don't get suspicious
But my woman is a friend of mine
And I know that it's true that all the things that I do
Will come back to me in my sweet time

So keep on rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n me baby

I went from Phoenix, Arizona
All the way to Tacoma
Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A.
Northern California where the girls are warm
So I could be with my sweet baby, yeah

Keep on a rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n me baby
Baby, baby, baby
Keep on rock'n
Rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n
Rock'n me baby

Don't get suspicious
Now don't be suspicious
Babe, you know you are a friend of mine
And you know that it's true
That all the things that I do
Are gonna come back to you in your sweet time

I went from Phoenix, Arizona
All the way to Tacoma
Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A.
Northern California where the girls are warm
So I could hear my sweet baby say

Keep on a rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n me, rock'n me, rock'n
Baby, baby, baby
Keep on a rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n me baby
Keep on a rock'n me baby

Callin' out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancin' in the streets
They're dancin' in Chicago
Down in New Orleans
Up in New York City
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swingin', swayin' and records playin'
And dancin' in the streets
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy grab a
Everywhere around the world
There'll be dancin'
They're dancin' in the street
This is an invitation
Across the nation
A chance for the folks to meet
There'll be laughin' and singin' and music swingin'
And dancin' in the streets
Philadelphia, P.A. (Philadelphia, P.A.)
Baltimore and DC now (Baltimore and DC now)
Yeah don't forget the Motor City (can't forget the Motor City)
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swingin', swayin' and records playin'
And dancin' in the street, yeah
------ electric piano ------
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy grasp a
Everywhere around the world
There'll be dancin'
They're dancin' in the streets
Philadelphia, P.A. (Philadelphia, P.A.)
Baltimore and DC now (Baltimore and DC now)
Yeah don't forget the Motor City (can't forget the Motor City)

EDIT: And here's the last one

JAMES BROWN LYRICS
LIVING IN AMERICA LYRICS



Superhighways - coast to coast - easy takin' anywhere -
On the transcontinental overload
just slide behind the wheel.
How does it feel when there's no destination that's too far

And somewhere on the way
you might find out who you are.

Living in America - eye to eye - station to station.
Living in America - hand in hand - across the nation.
Living in America - got to have a celebration - rock my soul!

Smokestack - fatback - many miles of railroad track.
All-night radio keep on runnin' through your rock'n' roll soul.
All-night diners keep you awake
on a black coffee and a hard roll.
you might have to walk a fine line
you might take a hard line

But everybody's workin' overtime.

Living in America - eye to eye - station to station....

I live in America - I live in America - wait a minute -
you may not be lookin' for the promised land

But you might find it anyway.
Under one of those old familiar names like;
New Orleans - New Orleans
Detroit City - Detroit City

Dallas - Dallas
Pittsburgh P. A. - Pittsburgh P. A.

New York City - New York City
Kansas City - Kansas City

Atlanta - Atlanta.
Chicago and L. A.


Living in America - hit me - living in America - Iiving in America.
I live in America - staying alive - we'll make the prime.
I live in America - hey
I know what it means.

Living in America - hit me - eye to eye - station to station.
Living in America - so nice - would you better stop?
Living in America - I feel good!

SI

[sterlingice]

Ok, so in the end, the answers are something to the effect of:

1. Los Angeles (32 118)
2. San Francisco (38 122)
3. Los Angeles (32 118)
4. Detroit (42 83)

which gives lists of
30 90
42 83
33 97
40 80
41 74
39 95
34 84
42 88
32 118
39 77
29 98
40 75
42 71
31 91
36 96
30 98
35 98
47 122
38 122
33 112
47 123
40 75
34 84
32 118
42 88
30 90
41 74
39 77
39 77
42 83
...

SI

[QuikSand]

Well done.


For those who followed along... I'm open to constructive criticism here. I feel like I obscured it too much, making the puzzle impossible. What might be a worthy way to turn this into a puzzle that I could use again, with a different fairly intelligent audience?

Should I leave the sets of numbers in the smaller groups?

Should I offer any sort of verbal hints - like I di a few times along the way here?

Anything else you can think of?

(I think there's some potential with this idea... but it didn't quite click this time)

[cuervo72]

No "Sweet Little Sixteen"?

[Maple Leafs]

I'll be honest, I took a look yesterday and couldn't get anywhere with it. When I saw that the two highest first values were 47 I immediately thought home run totals (both league leaders had 47 this year), but couldn't find any connection to the second numbers. Eventually I figured that there were just too many possible "small number/big number" pairings, and since the answer could have been obscure ("ages of famous grandfather/grandson folk singers", etc) that it wasn't worth pursuing.

In hindsight, I wish I'd stayed with it. I doubt I would have gotten the link to geography (insert accusation of US-centicism here), but I think the puzzle was fair. And there was a nice payoff once you got the cities, with the music connection.

So my guess is that the puzzle was good, it just didn't get the repsonse it deserved because people like me underestimated it.

[QuikSand]

What about some kind of opening line: "Fear not! This is not a math puzzle."

[VPI97]

Originally posted by QuikSand
I feel like I obscured it too much, making the puzzle impossible.

From my point of view, it was a good puzzle...when I first saw the list on Sunday, I thought of latitude/longitude, but I didn't have the time to do any of the lookups....I'm glad the thread popped up today so I could contribute.

Should I leave the sets of numbers in the smaller groups?
Should I offer any sort of verbal hints - like I di a few times along the way here?

I thought the 'splitting up' you did was too much of a hint...I like these puzzles to stretch out for a while and to require contributions from a number of posters, though. I doubt I could have made the connection to music in a reasonable amount of time, but I know that someone would come along and make the suggestion. A lot of your hints are good and don't give too much away, but I would have liked to have seen a poster figure out the split.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by QuikSand
What about some kind of opening line: "Fear not! This is not a math puzzle."

Fear not...this has nothing to do with Winston Churchill.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally posted by QuikSand
What about some kind of opening line: "Fear not! This is not a math puzzle."

Yes, knowing that it isn't some sort of mathematical series was very helpful.

[sterlingice]

I agree- splitting up the keys made it too easy, tho I'm not sure it's possible otherwise.

Perhaps don't inform others of what the lists are, but mention there are 4 of them. Also, don't leave out one from each, just have people try to solve the last one. That, however, will hinge on people finding the line "Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A." and humming along at the right time.

The other suggestion I would have is to have maybe another song or two that is more recent (not that any spring to mind) where the words are all bunched together like that.

SI

[SplitPersonality1]

Excellent puzzle QS. I too, assumed it was a math puzzle. The not-a-math-puzzle disclaimer may have helped garner more participation.

Come up with another puzzle. These are quite fun.

[panerd]

Originally posted by sterlingice


The other suggestion I would have is to have maybe another song or two that is more recent (not that any spring to mind) where the words are all bunched together like that.

SI

What about this one?

Chicago, IL
New York City, NY
Detriot, MI
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
New Orleans, LA
New York City, NY
Buffalo, NY

Any guesses?

[John Galt]

So, the answer was 2/3, right?

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by panerd
What about this one?

Chicago, IL
New York City, NY
Detriot, MI
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
New Orleans, LA
New York City, NY
Buffalo, NY

Any guesses?

Sounds like Truckin' to me.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I may be a little slow in the head, but it would've been more helpful to me to know that music was involved in this puzzle someplace.

[CubsFan915]

Originally posted by QuikSand
What about some kind of opening line: "Fear not! This is not a math puzzle."

"Fear not! The answer to this question is not 2/3."