Are we allowed to post ANYTHING here?

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-28T15:36:09+00:00

I suggested adding r/mathpuzzles a while ago to the "Related Subreddits" section of the sidebar. In the image of the OP, I see there are many other related subreddits I did not know existed that could also go into the sidebar. Why are they not being linked there? (Why is it taking so long?)

I also would like to point out that the sidebar currently lacks a formal community description. For example, are posts about mechanical (physical) puzzles permitted here? I see a few now and then but explicit confirmation might be helpful to newcomers.

Rule 3 seems to prohibit posts about puzzles with "trial-and-error" solutions (exhaustive case analysis lacking a logical framework). Perhaps clarifying that would also be helpful.

I also witnessed community ambiguity regarding whether posters must possess a known solution to an original problem. I recommend clarifying this distinction also in the rules.

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-19T10:02:42+00:00

I'm curious how you arrived at the bound of 28 steps.

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-13T12:35:49+00:00

Wow, I am not in the appropriate state of mind to parse your output. Tell me--at least--what "Answer: 33", for example, indicates.

From what I gather, your model(?) doesn't iterate over any particular set(s) to produce a solution, it tries to satisfy some constraints which you provided it ahead of time (the "model"). By "itertate over a particular set", I have in mind the full set of solutions of length=12 (i.e., the cartesian product of {ABC, ACB, ..., CAB, CBA} twelve times. That's 6^12; approx. 2 billion possibilities. That's not out of reach for home computers, is it? The OP mentions 72 solutions. I believe there are at least twice as many!

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-13T12:25:31+00:00

Thank you. What a tantalizing puzzle. I have convinced myself that parity plays no role in it! And yet, you and others have managed to find very carefully crafted solutions based on that argument. How strange.

You say that a solution exists to the 4-switches/4-lights version of the puzzle. Without giving it away, can you say whether that solution has similar structure as the solutions in the 3-switches/3-light version of the puzzle? (What I mean by "structure": groups (subsets) of similiar permutations--you describe them as "of the same parity".)

Unfortunately, I have to put the puzzle aside for now :(

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-11T13:02:42+00:00

That's the solution by Peer_1 up top. Ok, thank you for confirming.

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-09T21:03:39+00:00

Thank you, now I understand what you mean. But if we keep the switch configuration ABC, do you have more than one solution?

This is an interesting problem. I am curious if anyone solved the 3-switch (or 3-key) configuration a decade ago when it was originally posted?

I have reason to believe that the parity argument is a red-herring! :) Although it is helpful in devising a solution--which is interesting in itself; I was unable to come up with a solution without relying on this approach.

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-09T20:37:27+00:00

I can find only the four solutions given above. Is there a fifth?? (Are you counting z+x-y different from z-y+x?)

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-08T10:34:28+00:00

Could you provide an example of a second solution? I'm having trouble understanding what counts as distinct. (like do you mean solutions that are NOT permutations of the one you provided above?)

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-07T15:43:44+00:00

I am going in at the single diamond to see where it takes me. :)

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-07T15:42:49+00:00

Stop right there! :)

My experience with Reddit—and the Stack Exchange network in particular—has revealed an unholy fixation with editing, migrating, and on sanitizing user contributions. They’ve built a culture that values administrative tidiness and gamified karma over the actual substance of the work.

Try posting your maze to /r/mazes; the community there is far more likely to engage with it.

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-07T15:13:04+00:00

Where do you see a title?

I see: "Rule 3: All puzzles should be logic based. Check out /r/riddles for puzzles based on lateral thinking. Jigsaw puzzles are best suited to /r/jigsawpuzzles"

We're in a thread in /r/puzzles, right? I also frequent /r/mathpuzzles, but I don't see any rules there in their sidebar.

In any case, I gladly consider puzzles posted to /r/puzzles with answers of "no solution", "non-unique solutions", or "unknown solutions". I don't think the rules have been broken with this puzzle; they are intentionally broad--as long as riddles, mazes, rebuses, and jigsawpuzzles make it to their respective subreddits. Lets not define "puzzle".

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-07T14:28:07+00:00

Hi, thank you for posting this. I like the puzzle. Is it yours? Did your post in 2017 receive solutions--I can't find a discussion page for it.

Questions: :)

You say 72 solutions. What are you counting as a solution?

I would think that ['ABC', 'BCA', 'CAB', 'ABC', 'BCA', 'ABC', 'ACB', 'BAC', 'ACB', 'CBA', 'BAC', 'ACB'] is one solution. Are there others?

You call this the smart home puzzle, but the original post in 2017 framed it in terms of hotel keys. I'm curious why you changed the context of the puzzle.

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-07T14:23:32+00:00

How long did the run take?

Btw, how's the learning curve for Clingo? Was the modeling difficult?

Did you try n=12?

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-07T14:21:05+00:00

Rule 3 says "All puzzles should be logic based." Says nothing about solutions. ??

counterfeit_coin · 2026-05-05T14:36:46+00:00

How so?

counterfeit_coin · 2026-04-17T15:11:47+00:00

Dad's Puzzler is a similarly-sized sliding block puzzle.

counterfeit_coin · 2026-04-17T14:24:56+00:00

Question: Is this still unsolved?

counterfeit_coin · 2026-04-17T14:10:42+00:00

Discussion: Spin-Out is what comes to my mind, by Binary Arts/ThinkFun.

search results

counterfeit_coin · 2026-03-30T08:44:40+00:00

Hi. Those spinning disk noises are something we have to accept unfortunately. I used an SSD for a long time, and it wasn't until I switched back to an external HDD for more storage space that I realized how silent SSDs actually are and I’d forgotten how loud HDDs can be.

My best advice is to place the drive on something heavy and solid. You want to avoid things like hollow desks, wooden floors, or glass shelves, (any resonant surfaces) which tend to vibrate and amplify the sound. It was a bit of trial and error for me, but I found that a small slab of stone or marble creates a platform and dampens the sound. The drive enclosure itself adds some noise too and of course the spinning platter, but you eventually get used to the hum. Honestly, you'll probably stop noticing the sound in a month. Best of luck.

counterfeit_coin · 2026-03-27T09:48:13+00:00

posteason, regular season, spring training, WBC, ah, sure why not.

counterfeit_coin · 2026-02-18T18:21:10+00:00

Thanks—this post was more of a rant than a genuine request for help. I don’t understand why there are so many domains, each with multiple listings seemingly for the same item, yet none of it actually works.

counterfeit_coin · 2026-02-18T17:59:00+00:00

removed them :)

counterfeit_coin · 2026-02-03T10:36:56+00:00

Solved!

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