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When Pi isn't 3.14 Mystery Cache

Hidden : 3/14/2024
Difficulty:
5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


This is a puzzle cache and not located at the posted coordinates. Solve the following puzzle to find the coordinates.

Pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the diameter of the circle. Pi is an irrational number that never ends and is commonly notated by 3.14 or 22/7. In honor of Pi Day I decided the place this cache. Are there times when pi is not equal to 3.14, or the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle?

Assume the earth is a smooth sphere. Draw a circle on the surface of the earth with the center being the North Pole. The diameter is drawn on the surface of the sphere.

\(circumference/diameter= 2.76693416\)

Now draw a circle on the surface of the earth with the center being where the equator and the international date line, 180°, or the antimeridian intersect. I know that the international date line is not a straight line and meanders quite a bit but at the equator it intersects at 180°. The diameter is drawn on the surface of the sphere.

\(circumference/diameter= 2.45162118\)

The north coordinates are found along the circumference of the circle centered around the north pole, the west coordinates are found by finding the easternmost part of the circle centered around the equator and the international date line. 

You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Lbh zvtug nfx lbhe frys "Jul vf gur pvephzsrerapr bs n pvepyr qenja ba n fcurer yrff guna gur pvephzsrerapr bs gur pvepyr bs fnzr qvnzrgre qenja ba n syng fhesnpr?" Gur nafjre pna or pnyphyngrq hfvat n sbezhyn. Gur punyyratr vf svaqvat gur sbezhyn!

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)