Ultimate Puzzle Challenge!

[Mornai]

Okay, how about a 70 point question this time.

[pokeplayer984]

Okay, for 70 points:

In front of you is a rather unusual lock:

? X ?
? ? ?
? X ?

On this particular lock, you need to place the numbers 1 through 9 into the ? slots and so that all the rows and columns, when multiplied together, have the same value.

Note that you can only use each number once and that there are only 7 slots, so you can't use two of the numbers.  On top of that, the rows and columns with the X don't count, so only those with the ? on all three slots do.

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Good luck!

[Clawandfang]

The irritating thing is... I've worked out exactly how to write a brute-force hack macro for this... but can't do it normally....rrr...

[lbt/cty_lover]

This is my solution:

6 X 1
4 2 9
3 X 8

Along with any rotation of it that works. It took about 30 minutes. It was hard, but using some math, i was able to solve it.

[pokeplayer984]

Wow!  lbt/cty_lover was the only one to get this right.

The secret to this puzzle is figuring out the number that works with them, which is 72.

As you can plainly see:

3 X 4 X 6 = 72
4 x 9 x 2 = 72
8 x 9 x 1 = 72

Another trick is figuring out what doesn't work.  5 and 7, out of the numbers provided, are the only numbers that can't go into 72.

From there, it just comes down to how it all goes together.
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So, the score thus far:

Stitch: 490 points (12 Hint Points)

Flathead770: 0 points (10 Hint Points)

Mornai: 465 points (14 Hint Points)

Clawandfang: 720 points (13 Hint Points)

LBTFan13: 0 points (10 Hint Points)

Tails_155: 80 points (12 Hint Points)

lbt/cty_lover: 750 points (12 Hint Points)

Mumbling: 220 points (14 Hint Points)

action9000: 0 points (10 Hint Points)

mcr mad: 0 points (10 Hint Points)
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And with that, we have a new current leader!

But don't forget, it's still anyone's game.

Okay lbt/cty_lover, your turn. :^.^:

[lbt/cty_lover]

50 points.

Actually, I did it a different way. Since I did not know the product, I used the fact that they were all equal and set up a series of mathematical ratios.

[pokeplayer984]

Interesting way of doing it, lbt/cty_lover.

Okay, for 50 points:

In front of you are nine blank squares:

? ? ?
? ? ?
? ? ?

Place 9 different numbers between 1 and 51 and so that they yeild the highest total possible from all directions containing 3 squares in a straight line. (Or in other words, rows, columns and diagonally.)

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Good luck!

[Clawandfang]

I'm not sure I entirely understood this. Is this the sort of thing you'r after:

       50   46   49 | 145
       45   51   43 | 139
       47   44   48 | 139
--------------------|149
147 142 141 140|

That makes 1142 in total. I suspect you meant that all the totals had to be equal, in which case I don't stand a chance. I can't do these.

[pokeplayer984]

I'm not sure I entirely understood this. Is this the sort of thing you'r after:

       50   46   49 | 145
       45   51   43 | 139
       47   44   48 | 139
--------------------|149
147 142 141 140|

That makes 1142 in total. I suspect you meant that all the totals had to be equal, in which case I don't stand a chance. I can't do these.

I did actually mean what you said at the end there.  I apologize for the mix-up and shall not charge you as such.

[pokeplayer984]

Is it this hard?  You guys do know that I accept hints, right?

[Clawandfang]

Okay then, hint me.

[lbt/cty_lover]

Same here. I can't solve this using a system of equations.

I think I have a solution. This is after the first hint was read, but before the second arrived.

EDIT: This one is after the second question's arrival. I now don't have an answer.

[pokeplayer984]

I must apologize.

I had gone and misread the question completely and as such, I had written it out wrong all this time.

For this, I greatly apologize and no one shall be pentalized at all.

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Seeing as how it's coming down to the end of the month, which was said to be when this game will end, I shall post the final question tomorrow.

However, be warned, it's the hardest of all!

[Mornai]

I can't wait for it! How many points will it be worth?

[pokeplayer984]

Okay, time for the final question.

Before I put it up, let me explain the few changes in the rules:

1. There will be NO hints provided, for this one, you're on your own.

2.  You, the player, will give me a wager by PM.  You don't wager, you're not allowed to answer.  Breaking this rule will result in losing ALL the points you worked so hard to get.

3.  If you don't guess and end up being the one with the most points, you WON'T earn the title of "Ultimate Puzzle Solver".  Understand, I'm not going to just give the title away.  I want you to prove yourself worthy of the title.  Only those that answer it will be found worthy of having the chance to earn the title.

Okay, those are the changes in the rules.

Now, before I begin, here are the scores one last time:

Stitch: 490 points (12 Hint Points)

Flathead770: 0 points (10 Hint Points)

Mornai: 465 points (14 Hint Points)

Clawandfang: 720 points (13 Hint Points)

LBTFan13: 0 points (10 Hint Points)

Tails_155: 80 points (12 Hint Points)

lbt/cty_lover: 750 points (12 Hint Points)

Mumbling: 220 points (14 Hint Points)

action9000: 0 points (10 Hint Points)

mcr mad: 0 points (10 Hint Points)
-----------------------

Okay, here we go!  The final question, which is the HARDEST out of them all.

On the following chessboard:

A1 A2 A3 A4 A5
B1 B2 B3 B4 B5
c1 C2 c3 C4 C5
d1 d2 d3 d4 d5
E1 E2 E3 E4 E5

Place 3 Queens and so that they don't block one another's moves.  Sound easy?  Here's the twist... You have to place the Queens and so that their moves take up EVERY square.

Remember that for this puzzle, you need to put in the letter-number combo that you placed a Queen on.

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The answer for this puzzle will be given by the end of tomorrow.

Best of luck to all. :^.^:

[Mumbling]

alright.. my answer would be;

A3, C2 and E5

[Clawandfang]

B2, C4 and E1.

[lbt/cty_lover]

A1, B4, D3.

This was great. It was a perfect way for me to relieve the tension of my upcoming AP exams. I thank you once again, pokeplayer984.

I am going to attach an e-hug to this message.
*e-hug*

[Stitch]

A2, C4, E3

That was a good challenge.

[pokeplayer984]

Mumbling, Clawandfang and lbt/cty_lover gave correct solutions.  However, Stitch got it wrong as A2 and C4 are along the same diagonal, thus meaning that they block one another's moves.  Not to mention that you didn't fill up all the squares, Stitch.  You missed D1.

So, that means the winner of the Ultimate Puzzle Challenge, and earning the title of Ultimate Puzzle Solver is...

lbt/cty_lover with a total of 1500 points (12 Hint Points)!

Congradulations to our winner! :^.^:

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Final score:

Stitch: 489 points (12 Hint Points)

Flathead770: 0 points (10 Hint Points)

Mornai: 465 points (14 Hint Points)

Clawandfang: 1440 points (13 Hint Points)

LBTFan13: 0 points (10 Hint Points)

Tails_155: 80 points (12 Hint Points)

lbt/cty_lover: 1500 points (12 Hint Points)

Mumbling: 440 points (14 Hint Points)

action9000: 0 points (10 Hint Points)

mcr mad: 0 points (10 Hint Points)
--------------------------------

Even though this Ultimate Puzzle Challenge has come to an end, it will return with harder puzzles than before.

If you would like more challenging puzzles, be sure to pick up Professor Layton and the Curious Village on the Nintendo DS.  In truth, this is where I got ALL the puzzles.

However, make sure to return when this game makes it's return and continue it's mission to find a puzzle that will stump the human race.

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So, how did you guys like this game?  If you must know, I found the puzzles enjoyable myself.