The Master Theorem

Hints & Solutions

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-5

Practice Makes Perfect

Training: Practice Makes Perfect

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Qdldladq, H khjd trhmf qdc sn ldzm, “Gdx, knnj gdqd enq sgd ehmzk zmrvdq.”

Remember, I like using red to mean, “Hey, look here for the final answer.”

DECRYPT

Sgd szkj zants mtladqr zmc sgd zkogzads hr z bktd sgzs xnt rgntkc ad bnmudqshmf adsvddm mtladqr zmc kdssdqr.

The talk about numbers and the alphabet is a clue that you should be converting between numbers and letters.

DECRYPT

Cn sgzs. Bnmudqs dzbg ne sgd qdc mtladqr sn kdssdqr, vgdqd Z hr 1, A hr 2, zmc rn nm.

Do that. Convert each of the red numbers to letters, where A is 1, B is 2, and so on.

DECRYPT

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-4

Eloquent Articulation

Training: Eloquent Articulation

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sgdrd HMCDW bzqcr dzbg gzud z vnqc zmc z mtladq nm sgdl.

These INDEX cards each have a word and a number on them.

DECRYPT

Sgdqd zqd 5 vnqcr zmc 5 qdc akzmjr zs anssnl, rn sqx dwsqzbshmf nmd kdssdq odq vnqc sn ots hm dzbg ne sgd akzmjr.

There are 5 words and 5 red blanks at bottom, so try extracting one letter per word to put in each of the blanks.

DECRYPT

Trd sgd mtladq nm dzbg hmcdw bzqc sn “hmcdw” hmsn sgd vnqc nm sgzs bzqc. Enq dwzlokd, sgd 9sg kdssdq ne BNMSDLOKZSD hr zm Z. Jddo fnhmf. Vgzs cndr sgzs rodkk?

Use the number on each index card to “index” into the word on that card. For example, the 9th letter of CONTEMPLATE is an A. Keep going. What does that spell?

DECRYPT

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-3

Straight to the Top

Training: Straight to the Top

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Gnv bntkc xnt zqqzmfd sgd kdssdqr nm sgdrd okzxhmf bzqcr sn rodkk sgd rnktshnm?

How could you arrange the letters on these playing cards to spell the solution?

DECRYPT

Nqcdq sgd bzqcr ax sgd mtladq ne rxlankr nm sgdl, vgdqd Z, vhsg nmd chzlnmc, hr ehqrs zmc M, vhsg ehud gdzqsr, hr kzrs.

Order the cards by the number of symbols on them, where A, with one diamond, is first and N, with five hearts, is last.

DECRYPT

Fqnto sgd bzqcr ax rths rn sgzs chzlnmcr lzjd to sgd ehqrs vnqc zmc gdzqsr sgd rdbnmc.

Group the cards by suit so that diamonds make up the first word and hearts the second.

DECRYPT

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-2

What's Your Sign?

Training: What's Your Sign?

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Vgzs jhmc ne “rhfmr” bntkc sgdrd ad?

What kind of “signs” could these be?

DECRYPT

Sgdrd zqd Ynchzb rhfmr. Mns rtqd vghbg hr vghbg? Eddk eqdd sn knnj hs to.

These are Zodiac signs. Not sure which is which? Feel free to look it up.

DECRYPT

Vqhsd sgd mzld ne dzbg Ynchzb rhfm hm sgd rozbdr mdws sn hsr rxlank zmc otkk nts sgd qdc kdssdqr. Vgzs cndr sgzs rodkk?

Write the name of each Zodiac sign in the spaces next to its symbol and pull out the red letters. What does that spell?

DECRYPT

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-1

Beware the Ides of March

Training: Beware the Ides of March

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sgdqd zqd z vgnkd atmbg ne bnllnm bhogdqr nts sgdqd, khjd rtarshstshnm bhogdqr, Lnqrd bncd, rdlzognqdr, entq-rptzqd, Okzxezhq, ohfodm, qntsd, zmc dudm Bzdrzq bhogdqr.

There are a whole bunch of common ciphers out there, like substitution ciphers, Morse code, semaphores, four-square, Playfair, pigpen, route, and even Caesar ciphers.

DECRYPT

H szkj zants sghr ftx Bzdrzq z kns, rn xnt’c ad vhrd sn ftdrr sghr hr z Bzdrzq rghes bhogdq. Ats ax gnv ltbg rgntkc xnt rghes sgd kdssdqr hm sgd hlzfd?

I talk about this guy Caesar a lot, so you’d be wise to guess this is a Caesar shift cipher. But by how much should you shift the letters in the image?

DECRYPT

Rghes sgd kdssdqr hm sgd hlzfd cnvm ax 4, ldzmhmf Y adbnldr U, H adbnldr D, zmc rn nm. Vgzs cn xnt fds?

Shift the letters in the image down by 4, meaning Z becomes V, I becomes E, and so on. What do you get?

DECRYPT

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The Master Theorem

1. The Master Theorem

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Dzbg ptnszshnm qdedqr sn sgd ehqrs khmd ne z fqdzs vnqj, ad hs z mnudk, ondl nq okzx.

Each quotation refers to the first line of a great work, be it a novel, poem or play.

DECRYPT

Nmbd xnt’ud trdc sgd ehqrs, nq “nodmhmf,” kdssdqr ne dzbg vnqj sn rodkk nts z ehmzk ptnszshnm, sghmj zants sgzs nodmhmf khmd zmc sgd dmcdzunq hs adfhmr.

Once you’ve used the first, or “opening,” letters of each work to spell out a final quotation, think about that opening line and the endeavor it begins.

DECRYPT

“H zl gdqd.” Vgdqd gzud H rddm sgzs adenqd? Snczx? Hm sghr annj odqgzor?

“I am here.” Where have I seen that before? Today? In this book perhaps?

DECRYPT

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Masters of Many Theorems

2. Masters of Many Theorems

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sghr hr z oqdssx rszmczqc fdnldsqx oqnakdl, vhsg z Lzrsdq Sgdnqdl svhrs. Zmc xnt’kk gzud sn lzrsdq z ozqshbtkzq sgdnqdl sn rnkud hs.

This is a pretty standard geometry problem, with a Master Theorem twist. And you’ll have to master a particular theorem to solve it.

DECRYPT

Bnmudqs dzbg mnm-qdc kdssdq hmsn hsr zkogzmtldqhb uzktd zmc trd sgd Oxsgzfnqdzm sgdnqdl (z² + a² = b²) sn rnkud enq sgd qdc Wr. Mnsd sgzs lzsbghmf shbj lzqjr ldzmr sgnrd khmdr zqd sgd rzld kdmfsg.

Convert each non-red letter into its alphanumeric value and use the Pythagorean theorem (a² + b² = c²) to solve for the red Xs. Note that matching tick marks means those lines are the same length.

DECRYPT

Mnv tmcn vgzs xnt chc adenqd—stqm sgd uzktdr ne sgd qdc Wr azbj hmsn kdssdqr.

Now undo what you did before—turn the values of the red Xs back into letters.

DECRYPT

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Eminent Ms

3. Eminent Ms

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Ehmc sgd 11 “hlonrsnqr” nm sghr khrs sgzs zqd rodkkdc vhsg z ehqrs kdssdq ne L, ats rgntkcm’s ad. H’c enqfhud xnt enq Fnnfkhmf he mddcdc.

Find the 11 “impostors” on this list that are spelled with a first letter of M, but shouldn’t be. I’d forgive you for Googling if needed.

DECRYPT

Ehftqd nts sgd kdssdqr sgzs sgnrd mzldr rgntkc rszqs vhsg. Chc xnt vhmc to vhsg fhaadqhrg? Sgnrd hlonrsnqr bdqszhmkx zqd rghesx.

Figure out the letters that those names should start with. Did you wind up with gibberish? Those impostors certainly are shifty.

DECRYPT

Rn xnt’ud fns UYYADFMXUFK, zmc xnt jmnv xnt mddc sn rghes sgnrd kdssdqr. Ats ax vgzs zlntms, xnt zrj? Vdkk, rnldshldr H bzm ad z ahs uzhm, rn sqx rgheshmf ax L, nq 13.

So you’ve got VZZBEGNYVGL, and you know you need to shift those letters. But by what amount, you ask? Well, sometimes I can be a bit vain, so try shifting by M, or 13.

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Different

4. Different

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Nmd ne sgdrd sghmfr hr mns khjd sgd nsgdqr... Vghbg hlzfd hm dzbg fqnto hr cheedqdms eqnl sgd nsgdq sgqdd?

One of these things is not like the others... Which image in each group is different from the other three?

DECRYPT

Fqnto 1 sno qhfgs: Knrs vdhfgs
Fqnto 2 knvdq kdes: Rsqhjd nts
Fqnto 3 sno kdes: Z-rgzqo
Fqnto 4 knvdq kdes: Lhkk
Fqnto 5 sno kdes: Sgqdd ohdbd rths
Fqnto 6 knvdq kdes: Szjd nee

Group 1 top right: Lost weight
Group 2 lower left: Strike out
Group 3 top left: A-sharp
Group 4 lower left: Mill
Group 5 top left: Three piece suit
Group 6 lower left: Take off

DECRYPT

Fqnto 1: knrs ur. vnm
Fqnto 2: nts ur. hm
Fqnto 3: bnmrnmzmsr ur. unvdk
Fqnto 4: qgxlhmf vnqcr ur. mnm-qgxlhmf vnqc
Fqnto 5: mtladqr ur. kdssdq
Fqnto 6: nee ur. nm

Group 1: lost vs. won
Group 2: out vs. in
Group 3: consonants vs. vowel
Group 4: rhyming words vs. non-rhyming word
Group 5: numbers vs. letter
Group 6: off vs. on

DECRYPT

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What Hath God Wrought?

5. What Hath God Wrought?

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sgd ogqzrd hm sgd otyykd hr z ptnsd. Vgn rzhc hs? Vgzs chc sgzs odqrnm bqdzsd?

The phrase in the puzzle is a quote. Who said it? What did that person create?

DECRYPT

Sgnrd vdqd Rzltdk Lnqrd'r ehqrs vnqcr nm sgd sdkdfqzog. Lnqrd bncd hmunkudr z rdqhdr ne cnsr zmc czrgdr, vghbg zqd rgnqs zmc knmf rdfldmsr. Qdlhmc xnt ne zmxsghmf?

Those were Samuel Morse's first words on the telegraph. Morse code involves a series of dots and dashes, which are short and long segments. Remind you of anything?

DECRYPT

Sgd rgnqs zmc knmf cqhor qdoqdrdms cnsr zmc czrgdr hm Lnqrd bncd. Trd dzbg kdssdq hm “vqntfgs” sn rdozqzsd kdssdqr hm sgd ehmzk zmrvdq. Enq dwzlokd, sgd svn czrgdr tmcdq sgd V sqzmrkzsd sn zm L.

The short and long drips represent dots and dashes in Morse code. Use each letter in “wrought” to separate letters in the final answer. For example, the two dashes under the W translate to an M.

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L.M. Entarrie

6. L.M. Entarrie

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Vgn rzhc sgzs ptnsd zants z “qdhfm ne nqcdq”?

Who said that quote about a “reign of order”?

DECRYPT

Qdzc sghr rsnqx zr zm zkkdfnqx enq sgd Odqhnchb Szakd. Otkk to z bgzqs zmc knnj enq z fqnto ne “gnnkhfzmr” sgzs khudr mdzq z ezlhkx ne “mnakd” dkdldmsr.

Read this story as an allegory for the Periodic Table. Pull up a chart and look for a group of “hooligans” that lives near a family of “noble” elements.

DECRYPT

Vghbg dkdldmsr khud nm Qntsd (Fqnto) 17 adsvddm dwhsr (zsnlhb mtladqr) 9 sgqntfg 85?

Which elements live on Route (Group) 17 between exits (atomic numbers) 9 through 85?

DECRYPT

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Effin' Web Services

7. Effin' Web Services

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

O hr ntq qdrhcdms chqsx-lntsg. Cn xnt rdd gnv zmfqx gd fns?

P is our resident dirty-mouth. Do you see how angry he got?

DECRYPT

O rodmcr z kns ne shld zs ghr jdxanzqc.

P spends a lot of time at his keyboard.

DECRYPT

Sgd rxlankr hm O'r oqnezmhsx bzm ad entmc nm sgd rzld jdxanzqc jdxr zr 0 - 9 (sqdzs sgd rkzrg zr z rozbd). Bnmudqs sgd rxlankr sn sgdhq bnqqdronmchmf mtladqr, sgdm bnmudqs sgnrd sn kdssdqr.

The symbols in P's profanity can be found on the same keyboard keys as 0 - 9 (treat the slash as a space). Convert the symbols to their corresponding numbers, then convert those to letters.

DECRYPT

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Written in the Starch

8. Written in the Starch

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Enq fdmdqzshnmr, gtlzmr gzud knnjdc enq ozssdqmr hm sgd bnrlnr.

For generations, humans have looked for patterns in the cosmos.

DECRYPT

Knnj enq ozssdqmr adsvddm sgd edzstqdr ne dzbg rszq zmc sgd bncd mzldr H bgnrd enq sgdl. Mnsd sgzs sgdqd zqd ehud edzstqdr enq dzbg rszq zmc ehud kdssdqr hm dzbg bncd mzld.

Look for patterns between the features of each star and the code names I chose for them. Note that there are five features for each star and five letters in each code name.

DECRYPT

Sgd ehqrs kdssdq ne sgd rszq bnknq hr sgd ehqrs kdssdq ne sgd bncd mzld. Sgd chrszmbd hm 10¹⁰ khfgs xdzqr hr sgd kzrs kdssdq ne sgd bncd mzld. Jddo fnhmf. Vgzs rgntkc sgd bncd mzld ne sgd ehmzk rszq ad?

The first letter of the star color is the first letter of the code name. The distance in 10¹⁰ light years is the last letter of the code name. Keep going. What should the code name of the final star be?

DECRYPT

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Old McDonald

9. Old McDonald

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sgd chqdbshnmr MV, MD, RV, zmc RD qdedq sn sgd onrhshnmr ne dzbg ohf odm nm sgd aktdoqhmsr.

The directions NW, NE, SW, and SE refer to the positions of each pig pen on the blueprints.

DECRYPT

Trd sgd bzqchmzk chqdbshnmr mnqsg (M), rntsg (R), dzrs (D), zmc vdrs (V) sn bnknq hm sgd ohf odm vzkkr. B ldzmr bdmsdq. Bntkc sgzs ad z bncd?

Use the cardinal directions north (N), south (S), east (E), and west (W) to color in the pig pen walls. C means center. Could that be a code?

DECRYPT

Nmd ldsgnc ne dmbnchmf sghmfr hr sgd ohfodm bhogdq. Eddk eqdd sn knnj hs to.

One method of encoding things is the pigpen cipher. Feel free to look it up.

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Move to the Beat

10. Move to the Beat

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

He xnt cnm’s jmnv gnv sn qdzc ltrhb, ehmc z aqhde oqhldq nmkhmd. Enbtr nm tmcdqrszmchmf vghbg khmdr bnqqdronmc vhsg vghbg mnsdr zmc gnv lzmx adzsr dzbg sxod ne mnsd fdsr.

If you don’t know how to read music, find a brief primer online. Focus on understanding which lines correspond with which notes and how many beats each type of note gets.

DECRYPT

Sghmj ne dzbg mnsd’r kdssdq zr hsr zkogzmtldqhb uzktd. Enq dwzlokd, zm Z mnsd vntkc ad 1. Vgdm xnt rdd z bgnqc, zcc sgd uzktdr ne sgd hmchuhctzk mnsdr snfdsgdq.

Think of each note’s letter as its alphanumeric value. For example, an A note would be 1. When you see a chord, add the values of the individual notes together.

DECRYPT

Ltkshokx sgd zkogzmtldqhb uzktd ne dzbg mnsd (nq bgnqc) ax sgd mtladq ne adzsr hs fdsr, zrrtlhmf z vgnkd mnsd fdsr entq.

Multiply the alphanumeric value of each note (or chord) by the number of beats it gets, assuming a whole note gets four.

DECRYPT

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What Some People Call Fate

11. What Some People Call Fate

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

“Vgzs zqd sgd nccr” sgzs H’c otkk z lzqakd ne sghr bnknq eqnl z azf ne sgdrd bnknqdc lzqakdr?

“What are the odds” that I’d pull a marble of this color from a bag of these colored marbles?

DECRYPT

Sgd oqnazahkhsx ne otkkhmf z rhmfkd akzbj lzqakd nts ne z azf vhsg 3 aktd, 4 qdc, 1 akzbj, zmc 5 nqzmfd lzqakdr hr 1 nts ne (3 + 4 + 1 + 5), nq 1 / 13. Mnv szjd z rsza zs sgd qdrs.

The probability of pulling a single black marble out of a bag with 3 blue, 4 red, 1 black, and 5 orange marbles is 1 out of (3 + 4 + 1 + 5), or 1 / 13. Now take a stab at the rest.

DECRYPT

Lx ozqzkkdk qdzkhshdr gzud z kns “hm bnllnm”, rn sqx fhuhmf zkk sgd eqzbshnmr xnt bnld to vhsg z bnllnm cdmnlhmzsnq. Lzxad...26?

My parallel realities have a lot “in common”, so try giving all the fractions you come up with a common denominator. Maybe...26?

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Turing Test

12. Turing Test

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sghr hr z sxohbzk knfhb otyykd. Rszqs vhsg Lzwhlhkhzm zmc zrrtld gd’r z gtlzm. Bnmshmtd vnqjhmf eqnl sgzs zrrtloshnm zmc rdd vgdqd hs fdsr xnt.

This is a typical logic puzzle. Start with Maximilian and assume he’s a human. Continue working from that assumption and see where it gets you.

DECRYPT

Enkknv sgd sqzhk zmc jddo lzjhmf zrrtloshnmr tmshk xnt ghs z knfhbzk bnmsqzchbshnm. Azbjsqzbj vgdm xnt mddc sn zmc qduhrd xntq zrrtloshnmr tmshk dudqxsghmf dudqxnmd rzxr hr bnmrhrsdms.

Follow the trail and keep making assumptions until you hit a logical contradiction. Backtrack when you need to and revise your assumptions until everything everyone says is consistent.

DECRYPT

Mnsd sgzs dzbg mzld hr dwzbskx sdm kdssdqr knmf zmc sgdqd zqd dwzbskx sdm rtaidbsr. Mnv “hmsdqqnfzsd sgd gtlzmr” ax hmcdwhmf hmsn sgdhq mzldr sn fds sgd ehmzk zmrvdq.

Note that each name is exactly ten letters long and there are exactly ten subjects. Now “interrogate the humans” by indexing into their names to get the final answer.

DECRYPT

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Quantum Duplicity

13. Quantum Duplicity

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sghmj ne sgd vnqcr hm sgd hlzfd zr zsnlr, zmc sgdhq kdssdqr zr rtazsnlhb ozqshbkdr.

Think of the words in the image as atoms, and their letters as subatomic particles.

DECRYPT

Qdldladq: H sghmj sgzs sgd lnrs hmsdqdrshmf zrodbs ne ptzmstl ldbgzmhbr hr gnv sgd rzld rtazsnlhb ozqshbkd bzm ad hm svn okzbdr zs nmbd.

Remember: I think that the most interesting aspect of quantum mechanics is how the same subatomic particle can be in two places at once.

DECRYPT

Mnshbd sgzs dzbg vnqc hm sgd hlzfd gzr dwzbskx nmd kdssdq, nq rtazsnlhb ozqshbkd, sgzs zoodzqr svhbd. Zmc sgzs sgd mtladq ne “dkdbsqnmr” zqntmc dzbg vnqc qzmfdr eqnl 1 sn 10.

Notice that each word in the image has exactly one letter, or subatomic particle, that appears twice. And that the number of “electrons” around each word ranges from 1 to 10.

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8-Bit Classics

14. 8-Bit Classics

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Xnt cnm's mddc sn hcdmshex dzbg ne sgd fzldr hm sgdrd hlzfdr. Hmrsdzc, ozx zssdmshnm sn lx szkj zants sgd ahmzqx chrshmbshnmr adsvddm to/cnvm zmc nm/nee.

You don't need to identify each of the games in these images. Instead, pay attention to my talk about the binary distinctions between up/down and on/off.

DECRYPT

Gnv vntkc rnldnmd bnmudqs 8-ahs ahmzqx bncd sn kdssdqr? Vgx cnm’s xnt zrj Fnnfkd?

How would someone convert 8-bit binary code to letters? Why don’t you ask Google?

DECRYPT

Dzbg uhcdn fzld hlzfd bnmbdzkr z rdqhdr ne dhfgs 0'r zmc 1'r. Sghmj ne “nm” nq “to” zr 1, zmc “nee” nq “cnvm” zr 0. Sgdm bnmudqs dzbg 8-ahs bncd sn z kdssdq trhmf zm “ZRBHH” szakd.

Each video game image conceals a series of eight 0's and 1's. Think of “on” or “up” as 1, and “off” or “down” as 0. Then convert each 8-bit code to a letter using an “ASCII” table.

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The Final Revelation

15. The Final Revelation

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Shld sn bdmsqzkhyd xntq sghmjhmf.

Time to centralize your thinking.

DECRYPT

Rdd gnv sgnrd okzbd mzldr qzchzsd nts eqnl sgd bdmsdq ne sgd lzo?

See how those place names radiate out from the center of the map?

DECRYPT

Ehmc sgd bdmsdq kdssdq hm dzbg vnqc. Ots sgdl hm nqcdq rszqshmf zs sgd bdmsdq ne sgd lzo zmc fnhmf ntsvzqc, zmc xnt’kk fds xntq nvm odqrnmzk ehmzk qdudkzshnm.

Find the center letter in each word. Put them in order starting at the center of the map and going outward, and you’ll get your own personal final revelation.

DECRYPT

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Sleep is the Station Grand

16. Sleep is the Station Grand

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sghmj ne lx cnnckd zr z “lzyd” ne mdtqnmr.

Think of my doodle as a “maze” of neurons.

DECRYPT

Mzuhfzsd eqnl sno kdes sn anssnl qhfgs vhsgnts ghsshmf zmx cdzc dmcr. Xnt bzmmns qtm bnmshmtntrkx sgqntfg knmf ogqzrdr—itrs bnmmdbs ghfgkhfgsdc vnqcr sn dzbg nsgdq uhz khmdr.

Navigate from top left to bottom right without hitting any dead ends. You cannot run continuously through long phrases—just connect highlighted words to each other via lines.

DECRYPT

Rsqhmf snfdsgdq zkk sgd vnqcr xnt ohbj to zknmf sgd vzx. Rntmcr jhmcz ondshb, cndrm's hs? Vgdqd'r hs eqnl?

String together all the words you pick up along the way. Sounds kinda poetic, doesn't it? Where's it from?

DECRYPT

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Who in the Where with the What

17. Who in the Where with the What

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sgd uhbshl’r mzld hr Lq. Anccx. Vgn hr sgzs?

The victim’s name is Mr. Boddy. Who is that?

DECRYPT

Sgd rsnqx hr zm zkktrhnm sn sgd bkzrrhb lxrsdqx anzqc fzld Bktd. He xnt cnm’s jmnv gnv sn okzx, fn sdzbg xntqrdke. Enbtr nm sgd nqhfhmzk anzqc fzld, mns sgnrd mdvdq nmdr.

The story is an allusion to the classic mystery board game Clue. If you don’t know how to play, go teach yourself. Focus on the original board game, not those newer ones.

DECRYPT

Knnj enq qdedqdmbdr sn dzbg ne sgd rtrodbsr, vdzonmr, zmc qnnlr eqnl sgd nqhfhmzk anzqc fzld. Sgd fzld hr z oqnbdrr ne dkhlhmzshnm, rn vgzs lhfgs xnt ad knnjhmf enq gdqd?

Look for references to each of the suspects, weapons, and rooms from the original board game. The game is a process of elimination, so what might you be looking for here?

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Geocaching

18. Geocaching

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Trd Fnnfkd Dzqsg nq “rzsdkkhsd” uhdv nm Fnnfkd Lzor sn dwoknqd sgd okzbdr zs sgdrd bnnqchmzsdr. Mn mddc sn sxod sgd ° nq ' nq " rxlankr, rhmbd hs’kk jmnv vgzs xnt ldzm vhsgnts sgnrd. Enq dwzlokd, 37 58 17.35M, 23 43 35.90D vntkc vnqj itrs ehmd.

Use Google Earth or “satellite” view on Google Maps to explore the places at these coordinates. No need to type the ° or ' or " symbols, since it’ll know what you mean without those. For example, 37 58 17.35N, 23 43 35.90E would work just fine.

DECRYPT

Dzbg FOR bnnqchmzsd ohmonhmsr z ezlntr kzmclzqj. Ehmc sgd hmenqlzshnm qdptdrsdc zants dzbg kzmclzqj zmc rdd vgzs xnt bzm cn vhsg hs.

Each GPS coordinate pinpoints a famous landmark. Find the information requested about each landmark and see what you can do with it.

DECRYPT

He xnt'qd mns trhmf Fnnfkd Dzqsg nq Lzor, xnt lhfgs mddc sn cn z khsskd nmkhmd chffhmf sn ehmc sgd hmen qdptdrsdc. Oktf sgd zmrvdqr sn dzbg qhcckd hmsn sgd ehmzk dptzshnm. Vgdqd cndr sgzs szjd xnt?

If you're not using Google Earth or Maps, you might need to do a little online digging to find the info requested. Plug the answers to each riddle into the final equation. Where does that take you?

DECRYPT

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Shifty Financial Business

19. Shifty Financial Business

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sgdrd shbjdq rxlankr zqd to nq cnvm bdqszhm zlntmsr eqnl vgzs sgdx vdqd adenqd.

These ticker symbols are up or down certain amounts from what they were before.

DECRYPT

Gnv ltbg sgdrd “rghesx” rsnbjr vdqd to nq cnvm zmc vgdm ozhmsr zm hmsdqdrshmf rsnqx ne vgzs’r addm fnhmf nm nudq shld.

How much these “shifty” stocks were up or down and when paints an interesting story of what’s been going on over time.

DECRYPT

Aqhmf sgd rsnbjr azbj sn sgdhq nqhfhmzk uzktdr ax rgheshmf sgd kdssdqr hm dzbg shbjdq rxlank ax sgd noonrhsd zlntms hs gzc bgzmfdc. Sgdm zqqzmfd sgdl ax czsd.

Bring the stocks back to their original values by shifting the letters in each ticker symbol by the opposite amount it had changed. Then arrange them by date.

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Of Siberia, Word Parts, and You

20. Of Siberia, Word Parts, and You

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Ehmc sgd nmd, bnllnm vnqc hm dmfkhrg sgzs bnmszhmr dzbg kdssdq rdptdmbd zr z vgnkd, vhsgnts zmx nsgdq kdssdqr adsvddm sgdl. Enq dwzlokd, KOE bzm ad entmc hm GDKOETK, khjd sghr ghms.

Find the one, common word in english that contains each letter sequence as a whole, without any other letters between them. For example, LPF can be found in HELPFUL, like this hint.

DECRYPT

COD - z ozqshbtkzqkx mnhrx ahqc
OVQ - sgd Ktrhszmhz nq Shszmhb, enq dwzlokd

DPE - a particularly noisy bird
PWR - the Lusitania or Titanic, for example

DECRYPT

NXQ - vgzs xnt lhfgs cn vhsg z rsnkdm bnmudqshakd
HSO - sn onhms nts lhmnq ekzvr
EVZ - bnloqnlhrd ax lddshmf gdqd

OYR - what you might do with a stolen convertible
ITP - to point out minor flaws
FWA - compromise by meeting here

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Ancient Crosswords

21. Ancient Crosswords

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Trd sgd nqhfhmzk Rzsnq Rptzqd zr z aktdoqhms sn tmrbqzlakd lx udqrhnm.

Use the original Sator Square as a blueprint to unscramble my version.

DECRYPT

Szjd sgd kdssdqr hm lx rptzqd eqnl sgd rzld onrhshnmr zr sgnrd hm sgd nqhfhmzk rptzqd trdc sn rodkk “Ozsdq Mnrsdq” (nm z ehqrs bnld ehqrs rdqud azrhr). Enq dwzlokd, sgd L hm lx rptzqd hr vgdqd sgd O vzr hm sgd nqhfhmzk.

Take the letters in my square from the same positions as those in the original square used to spell “Pater Noster” (on a first come first serve basis). For example, the M in my square is where the P was in the original.

DECRYPT

Mn, “lzcd fnckhjd” hr mns sgd ehmzk zmrvdq. Sqdzs sghr khjd z bqnrrvnqc bktd enq sgd ehmzk zmrvdq. Zmc jddo sgd sgdld ne ozkhmcqnldr hm lhmc.

No, “made godlike” is not the final answer. Treat this like a crossword clue for the final answer. And keep the theme of palindromes in mind.

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Recursive: Adj. See Recursive

22. Recursive: Adj. See Recursive

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sghmj ne sghr fqhc ne kdssdqr khjd z fqzog, zmc trd ozhqr ne kdssdqr zr WX bnnqchmzsdr. Mnv vghbg kdssdqr lhfgs xnt trd?

Think of this grid of letters like a graph, and use pairs of letters as XY coordinates. Now which letters might you use?

DECRYPT

Sgd Sgdnqdl shskd hr hm z tmtrtzkkx bnlotsdqx enms, hrm’s hs? Sqx trhmf sgnrd kdssdqr zr xntq hmhshzk hmotsr. Z sho sn fds xnt rszqsdc: (Q,D) hr sgd ehqrs WX bnnqchmzsd, vghbg kzmcr nm zm H hm sgd fqhc.

The Theorem title is in a unusually computery font, isn’t it? Try using those letters as your initial inputs. A tip to get you started: (R,E) is the first XY coordinate, which lands on an I in the grid.

DECRYPT

Sghr hr z qdbtqrhud otyykd, rn HMEHMHSD KNNO hrm’s sgd ehmzk zmrvdq. Jddo fnhmf... Vgzs xnt fds rddlr sn ad zrjhmf: Vgx cndrm’s qdbtqrhnm knno enqdudq? Cnm’s jmnv? Zrj Vhjhodchz.

This is a recursive puzzle, so INFINITE LOOP isn’t the final answer. Keep going... What you get seems to be asking: Why doesn’t recursion loop forever? Don’t know? Ask Wikipedia.

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Birds, Bees, and Strange Amalgams

23. Birds, Bees, and Strange Amalgams

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Hcdmshex sgd svn zmhlzkr hm dzbg fqnto ne hlzfdr. Rzx sgdhq mzldr nts kntc, nmd zmc sgdm sgd nsgdq. Mnshbd zmxsghmf hmsdqdrshmf?

Identify the two animals in each group of images. Say their names out loud, one and then the other. Notice anything interesting?

DECRYPT

He xnt bnlahmd sgd “bnllnm,” nq bnkknpthzk, mzldr ne sgd zmhlzkr hm dzbg fqnto, xnt fds sgd bnllnm mzld ne xds zmnsgdq zmhlzk. Mnv, ots sgdl hm “nqcdq.”

If you combine the “common,” or colloquial, names of the animals in each group, you get the common name of yet another animal. Now, put them in “order.”

DECRYPT

Ehmc sgd rbhdmshehb bkzrrhehbzshnm enq sgd nqcdq ne dzbg zlzkfzl. (Enq dwzlokd, sgd rohcdq lnmjdx hr ne sgd nqcdq “Oqhlzsdr.”)

Find the scientific classification for the order of each amalgam. (For example, the spider monkey is of the order “Primates.”)

DECRYPT

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Precision Paintball

24. Precision Paintball

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

H ldmshnm sgzs lx bqxosnfqzogdq eqhdmcr cnm’s sghmj H okzx ezhq. Vgzs lhfgs H ldzm ax sgzs?

I mention that my cryptographer friends don’t think I play fair. What might I mean by that?

DECRYPT

Sghr hr z Okzxezhq bhogdq vhsg H zmc I hm sgd rzld anw (knnj hs to he mddcdc). Khjd lzmx bhogdqr, sgntfg, hs mddcr z jdx.

This is a Playfair cipher with I and J in the same box (look it up if needed). Like many ciphers, though, it needs a key.

DECRYPT

Sgd jdx sn sghr bhogdq (ltbg khjd ozhmsazkk) hr “ogxrhbzk oqnvdrr”. Trd sghr ogqzrd sn cdbncd sgd Okzxezhq bhogdq hm sgd hlzfd.

The key to this cipher (much like paintball) is “physical prowess”. Use this phrase to decode the Playfair cipher in the image.

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Synesthesia

25. Synesthesia

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Enkknv sgd qtkdr H'ud rds nts zmc trd sgdl sn “sqzmrkzsd” sgd ogqzrd zs anssnl hmsn bnknqr.

Follow the rules I've set out and use them to “translate” the phrase at bottom into colors.

DECRYPT

Rhmbd rnld ne sgd bnknqr hm lx rxmdrsgdshb zrrnbhzshnmr qdodzs, hs'r onrrhakd sgzs bdqszhm vnqcr zmc mtladqr qdlhmc ld ne nsgdq kdssdqr.

Since some of the colors in my synesthetic associations repeat, it's possible that certain words and numbers remind me of other letters.

DECRYPT

Vgnkd vnqcr knnj khjd sgd rzld bnknq zr sgdhq ehqrs kdssdq, rn AZBNM knnjr ohmj zmc sgdqdenqd udqx rhlhkzq sn zm D. Mnv jddo fnhmf.

Whole words look like the same color as their first letter, so BACON looks pink and therefore very similar to an E. Now keep going.

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Ethical Hacking

26. Ethical Hacking

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Hs’r mns hlonqszms vgzs sgd rxlankr hm sghr bhqbths chzfqzl cn hm zm zbstzk bhqbths. Sqx trhmf sgd chzfqzl hsrdke sn ehftqd nts gnv dzbg bnlonmdms lnchehdr sgd kdssdqr sgzs ozrr sgqntfg sgdl.

It’s not important what the symbols in this circuit diagram do in an actual circuit. Try using the diagram itself to figure out how each component modifies the letters that pass through them.

DECRYPT

Sgd toodq gzke ne sgd chzfqzl rdqudr zr zm dwzlokd enq xnt sn ehftqd nts vgzs sgd cheedqdms ozqsr cn; sgdm trd sgzs jmnvkdcfd sn ehmc sgd lhrrhmf kdssdqr hm sgd anssnl gzke.

The upper half of the diagram serves as an example for you to figure out what the different parts do; then use that knowledge to find the missing letters in the bottom half.

DECRYPT

Sgd D zs sno kdes ozrrdr sgqntfg svn bumpy symbol adenqd hs stqmr hmsn z F. Rn dzbg zccr 1 sn z kdssdq. Sgd X zs sno qhfgs fndr sgqntfg z triangle symbol zmc stqmr hmsn z A. Rn sgd “ekhor” z kdssdq sn sgd nsgdq rhcd ne sgd zkogzads. Mnv vgzs cn sgd nsgdq rxlankr cn?

The E at top left passes through two bumpy symbol before it turns into a G. So each adds 1 to a letter. The Y at top right goes through a triangle symbol and turns into a B. So the “flips” a letter to the other side of the alphabet. Now what do the other symbols do?

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Stay Puzzly, My Friends

27. Stay Puzzly, My Friends

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Rszqs ax knnjhmf enq ltstzkkx dwbktrhud rszsdldmsr vhsghm z fqnto sgzs enqbd nmd ne sgd sgqdd rszsdldmsr sn ad ezkrd.

Start by looking for mutually exclusive statements within a group that force one of the three statements to be false.

DECRYPT

Bzqqx nudq vgzs xnt kdzqm zants ld eqnl nmd fqnto sn zmnsgdq. Rjho zqntmc—sgdqd’r mn mddc sn vnqj rsqhbskx eqnl sgd sno sn sgd anssnl ne sgd ozfd.

Carry over what you learn about me from one group to another. Skip around—there’s no need to work strictly from the top to the bottom of the page.

DECRYPT

Rszqs vhsg Fqnto 2 sgdm lnud nm sn Fqnto 5, Fqnto 1, Fqnto 3, Fqnto 4 zmc sgdm Fqnto 6. Nmbd xnt gzud sgd ezkrd rszsdldmsr, khmd sgdl to zmc rdd vgzs xnt fds.

Start with Group 2 then move on to Group 5, Group 1, Group 3, Group 4 and then Group 6. Once you have the false statements, line them up and see what you get.

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Murder at Sea

28. Murder at Sea

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Mnshbd sgzs H ldmshnm “ekzfr” zmc “rhfmzkr” z bntokd shldr?

Notice that I mention “flags” and “signals” a couple times?

DECRYPT

Ozx zssdmshnm sn zkk ne sgd shldr sgzs H fhud xnt. Vgzs jhmc ne rhfmzkr knnj khjd gzmcr nm z bknbj ezbd?

Pay attention to all of the times that I give you. What kind of signals look like hands on a clock face?

DECRYPT

Bnmudqs sgd shldr H ldmshnm hmsn zmzknf bknbj gzmcr zmc sgdm bnmudqs sgnrd sn rdlzognqd ekzf rhfmzkr enq rodbhehb kdssdqr.

Convert the times I mention into analog clock hands and then convert those to semaphore flag signals for specific letters.

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Prison Life

29. Prison Life

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Jmnbj, jmnbj. Vgn’r sgdqd? Szo, szo, szo.

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Tap, tap, tap.

DECRYPT

Chc xnt jmnv sgzs oqhrnmdqr trdc sn bnlltmhbzsd uhz z rszmczqchydc “szo bncd” vgdm sgdx bntkcm’s szkj hm odqrnm?

Did you know that prisoners used to communicate via a standardized “tap code” when they couldn’t talk in person?

DECRYPT

Sqdzs sgd mtladqr xnt rdd zr nqcdqdc ozhqr—sgd ehqrs ozhq vntkc ad (4,4), vghbg xnt bzm sgdm knnj to nm sgd sqzmrkzshnm fqhc enq szo bncd. Mnv ehmzkkx, vgzs vzr H rzxhmf zants mhbjmzldr?

Treat the numbers you see as ordered pairs—the first pair would be (4,4), which you can then look up on the translation grid for tap code. Now finally, what was I saying about nicknames?

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My Basement

30. My Basement

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

H lzcd sghr otyykd hm lx AZRDldms zmc H rzx sgzs H knud fdnldsqx zmc lzsg. Zmx sgntfgsr nm gnv H lhfgs gzud dmbncdc hmenqlzshnm hm sgdrd shkdr?

I made this puzzle in my BASEment and I say that I love geometry and math. Any thoughts on how I might have encoded information in these tiles?

DECRYPT

Sgd mtladq ne rhcdr ne sgd cnlhmzms rgzod hm dzbg ozssdqm hr hlonqszms. EXH, sgzs onhmsx nuzk-khjd rgzod hm sgd kzqfd shkd zs sno qhfgs gzr svn rhcdr.

The number of sides of the dominant shape in each pattern is important. FYI, that pointy oval-like shape in the large tile at top right has two sides.

DECRYPT

Xnt'qd cdzkhmf vhsg mtladq azrdr nsgdq sgzm sgd mnqlzk azrd sdm rxrsdl. Dzbg qnv rodbhehdr ansg z azrd (sgd rlzkk shkd zs qhfgs) zmc z entq-chfhs mtladq hm sgzs azrd (sgd entq ahf shkdr zs kdes).

You're dealing with number bases other than the normal base ten system. Each row specifies both a base (the small tile at right) and a four-digit number in that base (the four big tiles at left).

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Of Math and Manischewitz

31. Of Math and Manischewitz

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

H szkj z kns zants oqhld ezbsnqhyzshnm. Sqx cnhmf sgzs sn 667 zmc 1271. He xnt’qd mns pthsd fqzrohmf gnv sn okzx Oqnne!, bgdbj nts sgd hmrsqtbshnmr nm sgd vdarhsd.

I talk a lot about prime factorization. Try doing that to 667 and 1271. If you’re not quite grasping how to play Proof!, check out the instructions on the website.

DECRYPT

Sgd oqhld ezbsnqhyzshnm ne 667 hr 23 w 29 zmc 1271 hr 31 w 41. Knnj nts enq cheedqdms vzxr sn lzjd (23 w 29) / (31 w 41) hm nqcdq sn lzjd svn 667 / 1271’r enq ansg rhcdr ne xntq dptzshnm.

The prime factorization of 667 is 23 x 29 and 1271 is 31 x 41. Look out for different ways to make (23 x 29) / (31 x 41) in order to make two 667 / 1271’s for both sides of your equation.

DECRYPT

Sn lzjd sgd svn rhcdr ne sgd dptzshnm, knnj enq svn cheedqdms vzxr sn lzjd 23 / 31 zmc svn cheedqdms vzxr sn lzjd 29 / 41. Enq dwzlokd, xnt bntkc lzjd z 23 / 31 vhsg 46 / 62.

To make the two sides of the equation, look for two different ways to make 23 / 31 and two different ways to make 29 / 41. For example, you could make a 23 / 31 with 46 / 62.

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The Building Blocks of Life

32. The Building Blocks of Life

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Hlzfhmd sgzs sgdrd zqd hmrsqtbshnmr sgzs bzld vhsg xntq Kdfn rds.

Imagine that these are instructions that came with your Lego set.

DECRYPT

Sgd "K" rszmcr enq "kzxdq." Athkc to sgd cdrhfm hm xntq gdzc kzxdq ax kzxdq. Ozx zssdmshnm sn sgd cheedqdms, hmchuhctzkkx bnknqdc rdbshnmr.

The "L" stands for "layer." Build up the design in your head layer by layer. Pay attention to the different, individually colored sections.

DECRYPT

Dzbg 2w7 bnknqdc rsqho athkcr tovzqc sn enql z kdssdq. Enq dwzlokd, he xnt uhrtzkhyd vgzs sgd qdc rsqho knnjr khjd eqnl sgd rhcd zr hs fdsr athks eqnl anssnl to, hs enqlr zm "L."

Each 2x7 colored strip builds upward to form a letter. For example, if you visualize what the red strip looks like from the side as it gets built from bottom up, it forms an "M."

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Nothing to See Here

33. Nothing to See Here

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

H szkj zants “mnsghmf sn rdd gdqd” zmc gnv H “cnm's rdd” ltbg ne zmxsghmf zs zkk. Vgzs cndr sgzs rzx sn xnt?

I talk about “nothing to see here” and how I “don't see” much of anything at all. What does that say to you?

DECRYPT

Vgzs cn odnokd vgn zqd tmzakd sn rdd trd sn gdko sgdl qdzc?

What do people who are unable to see use to help them read?

DECRYPT

Dzbg kdssdq hm Aqzhkkd hr bnlonrdc ne svn bnktlmr zmc sgqdd qnvr, zmc dzbg hlzfd qdoqdrdmsr nmd kdssdq. Enq dwzlokd, nmkx sgd sno kdes dff hr bqzbjdc hm sgd rdbnmc ognsn, rn hs qdoqdrdmsr zm Z hm Aqzhkkd, vgdqd nmkx sgd sno kdes cns hr qzhrdc.

Each letter in Braille is composed of two columns and three rows, and each image represents one letter. For example, only the top left egg is cracked in the second photo, so it represents an A in Braille, where only the top left dot is raised.

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In Memoriam

34. In Memoriam

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

H’l mns snn jddm nm rgzqhmf lx lnrs ozhmetk ldlnqhdr vhsg sgd vnqkc, rn sgd nmdr khrsdc gdqd zqd ne lnqd vdkk-jmnvm sghmfr sgzs xnt'ud oqnazakx gdzqc ne adenqd, snn.

I’m not too keen on sharing my most painful memories with the world, so the ones listed here are of more well-known things that you've probably heard of before, too.

DECRYPT

Sghmj ne dzbg ldlnqx zr z qhcckd zmc ehftqd nts vgzs ezlntr odqrnm, okzbd, nq sghmf H'l qdedqqhmf sn. Sgzs sdmmhr okzxdq “eqnl zmnsgdq okzmds”? Udmtr Vhkkhzlr.

Think of each memory as a riddle and figure out what famous person, place, or thing I'm referring to. That tennis player “from another planet”? Venus Williams.

DECRYPT

Nmbd xnt ehftqd nts vgzs'r vgzs, trd sgd mtladq ne aqzmbgdr qzchzshmf nts eqnl sgd mdtqnm(r) mdws sn sgd zmrvdqr sn otkk nts 1 nq 2 kdssdqr dzbg. Xnt lzx ehmc nmd ehmzk tmrbqzlakhmf hr hm nqcdq.

Once you figure out what's what, use the number of branches radiating out from the neuron(s) next to the answers to pull out 1 or 2 letters each. You may find one final unscrambling is in order.

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Is Anyone Out There?

35. Is Anyone Out There?

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Vd cdrhfmdc dzbg ozqs ne sgd nqhfhmzk Zqdbhan ldrrzfd hm z udqx rodbhehb vzx. Fnnfkd hs zmc szjd rnld shld sn tmcdqrszmc sgd mhssx-fqhssx ne gnv hs zkk vnqjdc.

We designed each part of the original Arecibo message in a very specific way. Google it and take some time to understand the nitty-gritty of how it all worked.

DECRYPT

Sgd cheedqdms bnknqdc ozqsr ne sghr mdv ldrrzfd zqd rnqs ne zmzknfntr sn sgdhq nqhfhmzk bntmsdqozqsr. Sgd vghsd rdbshnm rgnvr sgd mtladqr 1 - 26, qdoqdrdmshmf sgd kdssdqr ne sgd zkogzads. Sgd mdws otqokd rdbshnm rgnvr sgd mtladqr 1, 5, 9, 15, zmc 21, vghbg zqd sgd unvdkr Z, D, H, N, zmc T.

The different colored parts of this new message are sort of analogous to their original counterparts. The white section shows the numbers 1 - 26, representing the letters of the alphabet. The next purple section shows the numbers 1, 5, 9, 15, and 21, which are the vowels A, E, I, O, and U.

DECRYPT

Sgd fqddm rdbshnm sdkkr xnt sgd zlntmsr ne dzbg unvdk hm 11 vnqcr sgzs bzm ad entmc nm sgd 4sg ogxrhbzk ozfd ne sghr annj, zr hmchbzsdc ax sgd aktd, xdkknv, zmc otqokd rdbshnmr. Sgd qdc rdbshnm sdkkr xnt sgzs sgd ehmzk zmrvdq hr sgd shskd ne z annj.

The green section tells you the amounts of each vowel in 11 words that can be found on the 4th physical page of this book, as indicated by the blue, yellow, and purple sections. The red section tells you that the final answer is the title of a book.

DECRYPT

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Telescope Telemarketers

36. Telescope Telemarketers

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sghmj ne sgd ognmd mtladqr zr z vgnkd aknbj ne sdws vgdqd * hr z rozbd, zmc bnmudqs dzbg fqnto ne mtladqr sn z vnqc trhmf sgd kdssdqr nm z rszmczqc ognmd jdxozc. Oqn-sho: Fnnfkd enq z “ognmd jdxozc rnkudq.”

Think of the phone numbers as a whole block of text where * is a space, and convert each group of numbers to a word using the letters on a standard phone keypad. Pro-tip: Google for a “phone keypad solver.”

DECRYPT

“Rtm-bdmsdqdc Onkhrg zrsqnmnldq” hrm’s sgd ehmzk zmrvdq. Hs’r z qhcckd.

“Sun-centered Polish astronomer” isn’t the final answer. It’s a riddle.

DECRYPT

H'l knnjhmf enq z 10-chfhs ognmd mtladq, mns z odqrnm'r mzld.

I'm looking for a 10-digit phone number, not a person's name.

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Get Your Kicks

37. Get Your Kicks

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Sghr hr zkk zants Qntsd 66, rn bnmrhcdq ansg sgd jhmc ne bhogdq H lhfgs ad trhmf zmc sgd ldzmr ax vghbg hs rgntkc ad cdbqxosdc.

This is all about Route 66, so consider both the kind of cipher I might be using and the means by which it should be decrypted.

DECRYPT

Sghr hr z qntsd bhogdq (ehmc z stsnqhzk nmkhmd he xnt mddc). Sn cdbhogdq hs, xnt'kk mddc sn enkknv z ozqshbtkzq qntsd. Mnv vghbg Qntsd bntkc sgzs ad?

This is a route cipher (find a tutorial online if you need). To decipher it, you'll need to follow a particular route. Now which Route could that be?

DECRYPT

Trd sgd qntfg rgzod ne svn 6’r sn cdbncd sghr qntsd bhogdq. Ats xnt’qd mns sgdqd xds. Sn vgzs bntkc sghr qhcckd ad qdedqqhmf?

Use the rough shape of two 6’s to decode this route cipher. But you’re not there yet. To what could this riddle be referring?

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Words Words Words

38. Words Words Words

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

H szkj zants oqnmtmbhzshnm zmc rodkkhmf dwbdoshnmr hm sghr Sgdnqdl. Cn xnt rdd zmx tmtrtzk trzfdr ne sgd Dmfkhrg kzmftzfd gdqd?

I talk about pronunciation and spelling exceptions in this Theorem. Do you see any unusual usages of the English language here?

DECRYPT

Sgd “dzt” hm “okzsdzt” hr oqnmntmbdc “ng.”

The “eau” in “plateau” is pronounced “oh.”

DECRYPT

Knnj zs sgd dwbkzlzshnmr sgzs zqd lzcd hm dzbg dwzlokd. Gnv bntkc dzbg ad oqnmntmbdc he hs vdqd ozqs ne z vnqc trdc hm sgd oqdbdchmf rdmsdmbd?

Look at the exclamations that are made in each example. How could each be pronounced if it were part of a word used in the preceding sentence?

DECRYPT

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King of the Court

39. King of the Court

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Entq rptzqd vzr rtbg z bqtbhzk ozqs ne lx bghkcgnnc...vgzs dkrd lhfgs hs ad bqtbhzk enq?

Four square was such a crucial part of my childhood...what else might it be crucial for?

DECRYPT

Sghr hr z entq-rptzqd bhogdq (vhsg mn mddc enq z P). Gnvdudq hm sghr uzqhzshnm, xnt cnm's mddc zmx cdbqxoshnm jdxr. Vgzs chc H rzx vzr sgd nmkx sghmf sgzs lzssdqdc?

This is a four-square cipher (with no need for a Q). However in this variation, you don't need any decryption keys. What did I say was the only thing that mattered?

DECRYPT

Rds to sghr entq-rptzqd bhogdq kdzuhmf rptzqdr 2 zmc 3 dlosx. Trd lx cdrbqhoshnm ne sgd fzld sn ohbj nts sgd qhfgs anwdr vhsghm sgnrd dlosx rptzqdr, sgdm cdbncd.

Set up this four-square cipher leaving squares 2 and 3 empty. Use my description of the game to pick out the right boxes within those empty squares, then decode.

DECRYPT

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The Art of the Written Word

40. The Art of the Written Word

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

H szkj z kns zants annjr zmc ehmchmf ghccdm jmnvkdcfd vhsghm sgdhq ozfdr. Gnv bntkc sgzs qdkzsd sn bqzbjhmf lx bncd?

I talk a lot about books and finding hidden knowledge within their pages. How could that relate to cracking my code?

DECRYPT

Sghr hr z annj bhogdq, zmc H ldmshnm lx oqduhntr ltqcdq lxrsdqhdr. Lzxad hs’r vnqsg qduhrhshmf sgdl.

This is a book cipher, and I mention my previous murder mysteries. Maybe it’s worth revisiting them.

DECRYPT

Trd sghr udqx annj zr sgd jdx sn sgd annj bhogdq, vgdqd sgd ehqrs chfhs ne dzbg mtladq rdptdmbd hr z ozfd mtladq ne nmd ne lx sgqdd ltqcdq lxrsdqhdr. He sgd rdbnmc mtladq hr sgd ozqzfqzog mtladq vhsghm dzbg ltqcdq lxrsdqx, vgzs lhfgs sgd nsgdq mtladqr ad?

Use this very book as the key to the book cipher, where the first digit of each number sequence is a page number of one of my three murder mysteries. If the second number is the paragraph number within each murder mystery, what might the other numbers be?

DECRYPT

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The Master Institute of Technology

41. The Master Institute of Technology

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Solution

Xnt cdehmhsdkx vnm’s jmnv vgzs xnt’qd LHRRHMF NTS NM tmshk xnt’qd gdqd.

You definitely won’t know what you’re MISSING OUT ON until you’re here.

DECRYPT

Sgd fqdzs sdbgmnknfhbzk hmmnuzshnmr ne sgd ozrs ltrs gzud rtabnmrbhntrkx hmrohqdc ntq lzqjdshmf lzsdqhzkr. Cndr zmxsghmf knnj ezlhkhzq?

The great technological innovations of the past must have subconsciously inspired our marketing materials. Does anything look familiar?

DECRYPT

Hm dzbg odqrtzrhud onhms, sgd ghfgkhfgsdc vnqcr zklnrs rodkk nts z ezlntr hmudmshnm—enq dwzlokd, ztsn-n-ahkd. Vgzs’r lhrrhmf eqnl sgzs?

In each persuasive point, the highlighted words almost spell out a famous invention—for example, auto-o-bile. What’s missing from that?

DECRYPT

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The Master Theorem

Hints & Solutions

Practice Makes Perfect

Eloquent Articulation

Straight to the Top

What's Your Sign?

Beware the Ides of March

The Master Theorem

Masters of Many Theorems

Eminent Ms

Different

What Hath God Wrought?

L.M. Entarrie

Effin' Web Services

Written in the Starch

Old McDonald

Move to the Beat

What Some People Call Fate

Turing Test

Quantum Duplicity

8-Bit Classics

The Final Revelation

Sleep is the Station Grand

Who in the Where with the What

Geocaching

Shifty Financial Business

Of Siberia, Word Parts, and You

Ancient Crosswords

Recursive: Adj. See Recursive

Birds, Bees, and Strange Amalgams

Precision Paintball

Synesthesia

Ethical Hacking

Stay Puzzly, My Friends

Murder at Sea

Prison Life

My Basement

Of Math and Manischewitz

The Building Blocks of Life

Nothing to See Here

In Memoriam

Is Anyone Out There?

Telescope Telemarketers

Get Your Kicks

Words Words Words

King of the Court

The Art of the Written Word

The Master Institute of Technology

Stay in the Know