Friday, October 14, 2005

Logic puzzle - brain teaser

Here's a fun little puzzle thought up to excercise the logician in all of us. The idea is quite simple, but a quick cursory check of the Internet has yet to find an equivalent challenge. (If you find this puzzle somewhere else, please post it in the comments.)

Here it goes:

Remember from math that equations could be structured in function notation:

f(x) = [something],
where f(x) would be pronounced f of x; the 'of' being important for this puzzle.

Building on this concept replace the 'f' with x itself. Doing so one gets:

x(x) = [something] or x of x = [something]

(Hang in there...it'll be worth it.)

Given that, here are the rules of the puzzle:

Create as many logical word equations of the format x of x = [something] such that [something] is a legitimate word, as per dictionary.com or answers.com, comprised of only the letters represented in word x; either in part or in whole . The new [something] word can only utilize the unique instances of the letters in x. (Rule 1)

For example, the following would not be allowed:

shuffle of shuffle = lushes
because the 's' was used twice.

In addition the [something] word must make logical sense in the context of the word equation (Rule 2).

Going back to 'shuffle' above, a shuffle of the word results in a word that has all of the letters, s-h-u-f-f-l-e, to be logically correct. The word 'lush' would satisy Rule 1 but not Rule 2.

Another example of [something] that would be creative but not logical would be:

typo of typo = tpyo; because tpyo is not a legitimate word.

Here are a few examples to get you started with many more in the comments (don't peek until you've given it a try first):

something of something = some
something of something = thing
something of something = me
something of something = toe
something of something = hinge
something of something = hinges
something of something = sing
something of something = go
something of something = something
something of something = ...

Here are some more examples with the 'function' notation utilzed for brevity; remember x(x) is x of x:

all(all) = all
bit(bit) = it
eclipse(eclipse) = lip
eclipse(eclipse) = clip
slice(slice) = lice
four(four) = four
half(half) = ha
ignorant(ignorant) = ignorant
last(last) = last
laststraw(laststraw) = straw
lastquarter(lastquarter) = quarter
snip(snip) = nip
piece(piece) = pie

Add any solutions that you find in the comments.

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

all(all) = all
beginning(beginning) = beg
beginning(beginning) = begin
beginning(beginning) = beginning
bit(bit) = it
bottom(bottom) = tom
boxes(boxes) = boxes
cap(cap) = CAP
children(children) = child
clip(clip) = lip
containers(containers) = containers
copy(copy) = copy
dribble(dribble) = drib
dripping(dripping) = drip
drop(drop) = drop
dropping(dropping) = drop
duplicate(duplicate) = duplicate
echo(echo) = echo
eclipse(eclipse) = clip
eclipse(eclipse) = lip
envelopes(envelopes) = envelopes
envy(envy) = envy
equal(equal) = equal
finish(finsh) = finish
first(first) = first
firstword(firstword) = first
firstword(firstword) = firstword
forecast(forecast) = fore
forecast(forecast) = forecast
foremost(foremost) = fore
foreshadow(foreshadow) = fore
foresight(foresight) = fore
four(four) = four
half(half) = ha
ignorant(ignorant) = ignorant
illusion(illusion) = illusion
incite(incite) = incite
indication(indication) = indication
indispensible(indispensible) = dispensible
indispensible(indispensible) = in
input(input) = in
input(input) = put
inspection(inspection) = spec
intersection(instersection) = sect
inventory(inventory) = inventory
keeper(keeper) = keeper
knowledge(knowledge) = knowledge
last(last) = last
lastmile(lastmile) = mile
lastquarter(lastquarter) = quarter
laststraw(laststraw) = straw
lastword(lastword) = word
latecomer(latecomer) = comer
leader(leader) = lead
leftover(leftover) = over
lesser(lesser) = less
letters(letters) = let
letters(letters) = set
letters(letters) = setter
light(light) = lit
limit(limit) = limit
lineage(lineage) = line
list(list) = list
little(little) = it
little(little) = lit
lot(lot) = lot
love(love) = love
lowercase(lowercase) = lowercase
magnification(magnification) = cat
magnification(magnification) = CAT
maincourse(maincourse) = course
maincourse(maincourse) = maincourse
mate(mate) = mate
minimum(minimum) = min
nothing(nothing) = nothing
opposite(opposite) = opposite
photo(photo) = photo
piece(piece) = pie
prune(prune) = run
section(section) = sect
sibling(sibling) = sibling
skim(skim) = kim
skim(skim) = ski
slice(slice) = lice
snip(snip) = nip
something(something) = eth
something(something) = ethos
something(something) = eths
something(something) = got
something(something) = goth
something(something) = goths
something(something) = hen
something(something) = hens
something(something) = hinge
something(something) = hinges
something(something) = hinges
something(something) = hit
something(something) = hits
something(something) = hot
something(something) = hots
something(something) = me
something(something) = meth
something(something) = no
something(something) = noes
something(something) = shot
something(something) = shots
something(something) = sing
something(something) = sings
something(something) = so
something(something) = something
something(something) = ten
something(something) = tens
something(something) = tho
something(something) = to
something(something) = toe
something(something) = toes
something(something) = tome
something(something) = tomes
something(something) =go
something(something) =some
something(something)= thing
something(something)= things
somethng(something) = men
spot(spot) = pot
start(start) = star
start(start) = start
three(three) = her
top(top) = top
twin(twin) = twin
two(two) = ow
two(two) = to
whole(whole) = whole

October 14, 2005 at 8:36 PM  

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