Geocaching Math Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

gotta run: Reducing our maintenance burden. This one has very little interest.

To solve the puzzle, ignore the numbers and look at the operands. Take the number that corresponds to the operand on the computer keyboard. So, 4=$, 2=@, and so on.

More
Hidden : 1/28/2009
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


One of the first things we learned when solving geocaching puzzles is that quite often "Geocaching Math" is not like the “Regular Math” that the rest of the world uses and which underlies the laws of physics and, indeed, the universe.

For instance:

900 + 324 might equal 1224, or it might equal 224.

0-3 probably equals positive 7, not negative 3--but not always.

The phrase “add AB and CD” might mean AB+CD, or it might mean A+B+C+D.

And algebra sometimes goes completely out the window. For example, let’s say that, to find coordinate "A," a puzzle states: “There were (A-1) Wright Brothers involved in the first flight.” Well, since there were 2 Wright Brothers, you might calculate that A=3 in order to solve the equation of (A-1)=2 Wright Brothers. But alas, the correct answer here might actually 1 because you are supposed to perform the operation (2-1), not solve the equation.

 Got it? And sometimes, Geocaching Math involves a level of clairvoyance practiced by only the most accomplished mindreaders.

Are you frustrated by puzzles in geocaching that bend the rules of math? Well, here's a pop quiz that doesn't just bend the rules--it throws them out altogether.


Pop Quiz!

Let’s start with something simple:

2*2 = ?

 Got it? Ok. Ready for something a little harder?

125*70,597 = ?

So far so good? Well, now you’ll need a calculator with lots of buttons. How about:

17pi @ ¾ + ½pi @ ¼ = ?

Still with us? All righty then, here’s the final question:

32 + (16 tons, 1200# * $36.00/ton - $8.00/pound - n! + 4% of 4^2 ) @ ¼pi = ?

The cache is at W XX XX.XXX N XX XX.XXX (Oh, we forgot to mention that, just to be different, you’ll be solving for west first, then north.)


Pencils ready…go!

Did you pass?

Cliff's Notes:

-The quiz (between the lines above) is the puzzle. The stuff above the quiz is backstory.
-The "equations" will get you the coordinates you need.
-The answer to the first "equation" is NOT 4.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zntargvp anab

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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