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724,358 * 296,173 = ???? Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

wlmckinnon: One more

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Hidden : 8/5/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


Cache is not at the posted coordinates

But they will get you to some free parking.

I have already done a couple of caches that deal with devices that I used regularly at one point in my life, but that have since become obsolete. “Slip Sliding Away” (GC1MY4V) dealt with the slide rule and “Kodak Moment #127” (GC1R35H) dealt with roll film cameras. But devices (hard technology) are not the only things that can become obsolete. It is also possible for approaches and techniques (soft technology) to become obsolete. For instance, if we were faced with the problem of multiplying 387 by 629 using pencil and paper, we would probably scratch out something that looks like the following:

This is the way we learned to solve the problem. It’s also the way our parents, children and grandchildren have learned to solve the problem. This technique must have been around forever.

However, the following diagram appeared in the “World of Mathematics” published in 1956. It is a copy of an illustration that appeared in a 15th century manuscript and shows how the problem 456,789 * 987,654 = 451,149,483,006 would have been solved at that time. The technique was sometimes called the “grating method” because it looks like a grate.


You should be able to look at the diagram and see how it worked. While I am old enough to have used slide rules and roll film cameras, I’m not old enough to have actually used this method, but you will need to use it once to find this cache. You’ll need set up a grid and solve the problem 724,358 * 296,173 = ????.

Then, using a numbering scheme like the following, look up the numbers needed for the coordinates. I know, I know - the Rs and Cs are reversed!



The actual coordinates are:
N 38 37.ABC
W 121 16.DEF

A = R2, C6, B
B = R5, C2, B
C = R6, C2, A
D = R5, C3, A
E = R3, C6, B
F = R6, C4, B

You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.

Cache contains the normal log, notice and pen; prizes for FTF and STF; and, because this is not a shorts friendly location, stickers for trading.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)