EggXpert

Just found this thread about a week ago, I had fun trying out some of the puzzles and then finding out if my early attempts to solve them might have led me in the right direction. I was eager to take a full attempt at the current puzzle... but this crossword-like number puzzle has me completely stumped.

I'll be interested in finding out how the solution works... even with all the clues I just can't even begin to guess how to solve it. I thought that maybe after rearranging the numbers some pattern might appear, or there'd be some code hidden in there (such as comparing the row/column numbers and then black/white for true/false according to some kind of equation), but I just can't find anything to work with.

These have been some really unique puzzles though, I especially enjoyed the alien handwriting one. Simple when you know how it works, confusing before you figure it out, but just enough clues to get you started in the right direction.

Hello there.

 

Did you see my post with the images for possible reconfigurations? I have a feeling that the clue posted after it is hinting that I didn't sort the numbers correctly. 

I did see it, but I'm stumped. The fact that two rows have the number 4 doesn't really help.

So the first step is to put them into some kind of order like you did...  the next step is to start at the beginning (the lowest numbers, aka the top left?)... then something about either adding and subtracting the numbers, or some kind of positive/negative code in the black/white squares... or maybe some kind of odd/even thing... but I just can't see any pattern in there.

Unfortunately, we just have to wait now for the answer, as the puzzle should have closed Monday/Tuesday at midnight. I am just as stumped as you guys are

Ohy...  My consistancy is failing once again.

The solution to the puzzle is "easier seen than solved".  If someone can tell me how to get there before I post it (might be tonight, might be a week from now), I'll give them a space from the Prize Box.

Maybe it's a number-letter replacement? Whether the box is filled or not determines multiply/divide or add/subtract?

 

Or, perhaps the answer actually assists in solving the puzzle? o.O

 

The answer has 20 letters, and the highest number is a 20.

46 white spaces

54 black spaces
 

cg49me:

The solution to the puzzle is "easier seen than solved".

Sounds like the 10x10 grid could end up as an image when rearranged correctly... also sounds like looking for math equations to figure out how to arrange the numbers could be the wrong path.

Unfortunately, I still have no idea where the RIGHT path is.

Maybe this is another puzzle we have to print, cut and play with?

cg49me:

PUZZLE 10



Clue #1:  First step - order.

Clue #2:  Second step - beginning.

Was the answer the third clue?

This may have done better had questions been allowed. 

Okay, here, separated into 3 images, are all the possibilities if we use all, but only one of each of the numbers.

 

 

 

Could someone else please graph the boxes and then graph them without extra spaces where the blocks are missing? 

( 5,0) (17, 13)

Any chance we can get a clue that gives a stronger hint as to what the honk you're supposed to do with this puzzle?

Well chocobo, the next clue will be the answer

Typically, cg only gives about 3 weeks, with one clue per week. If no answer is correct at that point, he "closes" the puzzle and begins work on the next one. The only reason that we haven't seen any updates would be most likely due to busy-ness factor. Like anyone else, the guy has a life outside of eggXpert ( hehe jk), so he's most likely just strapped for time is all.

True that.  My last day of work before I head back to school is tomorrow, so I've been working on tying up all my projects and handing them off as needed.  Then of course there's the whole moving thing...

Someone asked about the third clue - I posted it some time ago.  You'll have to go digging a couple pages back through the thread history to find it.  Once again, the actual solution to the puzzle is "easier seen than solved".

I would go ahead and post the path to the answer, but I'll give you guys a little more time (read:  headache) at it.  For the record, it's a bit simpler than you're making it out to be.

Clue #3: Third step - +/-.

 

So, is the puzzle solved by x-y, then then second x plus the second y, then the third x / third y, and fouth x-fourth y? 

 

 
 

EDIT:

darnit! I just realized how to get the answer. Go back and edit a post you made after the puzzle was started, like 2-3 weeks ago. Add to that post(or change) 'OG: 'Easier seen than solved' ' in bold, then quote it, and post a link to the post in the post with the quote.

64, I have no idea what you just said in your edit. Also, I had asked cg what the third clue meant. You can see that reply from him directly after I had asked him, or believe me when I say it's:

 

minus, plus or minus

Orin27:

64, I have no idea what you just said in your edit.

He's saying that you can cheat by going back and editing an old post to make it look like you answered the puzzle correctly.

Orin27:

believe me when I say it's:

minus, plus or minus

I'm not so sure about that...

cg49me:

If I was to anunciate it, I would say "third step, plus or minus".

The dash just makes it confusing, but look at it this way... for the earlier clues, you're not thinking "first step minus order" and "second step minus beginning".

By the way, I totally didn't catch on to the fact that the actual solution to the puzzle is the words "easier seen than solved" until you said it the second time. And even with that huge clue as to how the puzzle works, I still have no idea what to do with it...

Oh wait, I think I do have an idea. EASIERSEENTHANSOLVED = 20 letters. I see a bunch of numbers with the highest one being 20, and I also see 10 rows and 10 columns.

Number of black squares in each column: 5 9 1 6 2 8 4 10 7 3.  Convert those to letters, E I A F B H D J G C. The first letter is there...

I'll count the number of black squares in each row... 9 6 1 7 5 3 2 10 8 4. That becomes I F A G C B J H D. Not too useful, it does happen to end in D though.

I'm not sure how to go on from here. Possibly some of the letters are reached by counting black squares (or white squares), and adding or subtracting them ("plus or minus") from the number of their row or column.

If I just try to force it to work... first column has 5 black squares (or 5 white) = E.  Next up, one white square = A. Next, 20 - one white square = S. After that... I got nothing.

Trying to search for individual letters, the only way I see to get V (22) is row 14 + 8 black squares.  Other than that, I'm now officially out of ideas.

You're getting slightly closer...  Okay, I'm officially letting this one go until someone figures it out all the way, at which point I'll give them a space from the Prize Box.

As a hint (oh boy!) look closer at the number of black squares in each column and row...

Across: 5, 9, 1, 6, 2, 8, 4, 10, 7, 2

Down: 9, 6, 1, 7, 5, 3, 2, 10, 8, 4

 

No rows or columns with no blacks... 

5, 20

4, 12

7, 18

10, 13

4, 5

4, 13

1, 3

10, 14

0, 17

1, 9

The larger number may be suppost to be first though.

Over all, it's basically, 2 strips(colloumn or row) with 1 black, 2 with 2, 2 with 3... and so on to ten.

chocobo:

Number of black squares in each column: 5 9 1 6 2 8 4 10 7 3.  Convert those to letters, E I A F B H D J G C.

I'll count the number of black squares in each row... 9 6 1 7 5 3 2 10 8 4. That becomes I F A G C B J H D.

Wow, how did I not notice that those are one of each digit 1-10. OK, let's put those in numerical order and list off the numbers next to the rows/columns...

Columns:  20  12   7   13   5   4  3  10  17  1

Rows:       5    4   18  10   4  13  1  14   0   9

This pretty much has to be related to the answer... though I still can't see how. But wow I can't believe I never thought to put the black squares in order instead of just the numbers.

 

easierseenthansolved = 5 1 19 9 5 18 5 5 14 20 8 1 14 19 15 12 22 5 4. Anyone see how to get those numbers out of that?