!?Puzzle?! -Possible Clue- Split the Difference

[Andrew153]

Notes: S stands for Skull. HP stands for Headphones. V stands for Valve.

There is a door which has the same symbols as mentioned above on it. From top to bottom they are stacked in the following order: Valve, Skull, Headphones. Combined, these symbols can only be pressed a maximum of 25 times, or the door doesn't open and the code resets.

There are 5 Flags, listed below are the amounts of symbols of them per flag. Each paper also shows only certain symbols, but they appear on different flags. These are listed next to the corresponding paper but are included in the totals below per flag.

What is the correct combination or sequence of symbols to open the door?

Symbol Totals Per Flag
A: 2V,1,HP,1S
B: 1H, 1V,1S
C: 2S,1V
D: 3S,2HP
E: 2HP,2S,1V



__

____
______

Paper 1 A: 1V, B: 1HP, C: 1S, D: 2S, E: 1HP
138 45 91
E > A
B ≤E

______
____
__
Paper 2 A: 1HP, B: 1S, C: 1V, D: 1S & 1HP, E: 1S & 1V
44 212 190
A < C
C > D


______
____
__
Paper 3 A: 1S & 1V, B: 1V, C: 1S, D: 1H, E: 1S & 1HP
61 42 94
D>B
D<C​

 

[DaveC426913]

OK, let's clean this up a little:

Flags:
A: VV S H
B: V S H
C: V SS
D: SSS HH
E: V SS HH

Papers:
1
A: V
B: H
C: 1,
D: 2,
Unexpected values encountered. Missing data? Why do C and D only have numbers?

Processing halted.

 

[Andrew153]

OK, let's clean this up a little:

Flags:
A: VV S H
B: V S H
C: V SS
D: SSS HH
E: V SS HH

Papers:
1
A: V
B: H
C: 1,
D: 2,
Unexpected values encountered. Missing data? Why do C and D only have numbers?
View attachment 359024
Processing halted.

My mistake. There was a formatting error, and I must have accidently deleted those two. I have corrected the error and all should be good. Thank you for pointing that out.

 

[berkeman]

There was a formatting error

That is an understatement. Trying to read your post makes me dizzy. Please post an updated reply with much better formatting (do not edit your OP). Thank you.

 

[Andrew153]

Notes: S stands for Skull. HP stands for Headphones. V stands for Valve.

There is a door which has the same symbols as mentioned above on it. From top to bottom they are stacked in the following order: Valve, Skull, Headphones. Combined, these symbols can only be pressed a maximum of 25 times, or the door doesn't open and the code resets.

There are 5 Flags, listed below are the amounts of symbols of them per flag. Each paper also shows only certain symbols, but they appear on different flags. These are listed next to the corresponding paper but are included in the totals below per flag.

What is the correct combination or sequence of symbols to open the door?

Symbol Totals Per Flag
A: 2V,1,HP,1S
B: 1H, 1V,1S
C: 2S,1V
D: 3S,2HP
E: 2HP,2S,1V



__

____
______

Paper 1 A: 1V, B: 1HP, C: 1S, D: 2S, E: 1HP
138 45 91
E > A
B ≤E

______
____
__
Paper 2 A: 1HP, B: 1S, C: 1V, D: 1S & 1HP, E: 1S & 1V
44 212 190
A < C
C > D


______
____
__
Paper 3 A: 1S & 1V, B: 1V, C: 1S, D: 1H, E: 1S & 1HP
61 42 94
D>B
D<C​

Notes: S stands for Skull. HP stands for Headphones. V stands for Valve.

There is a door which has the same symbols as mentioned above on it. From top to bottom they are stacked in the following order: Valve, Skull, Headphones. Combined, these symbols can only be pressed a maximum of 25 times, or the door doesn't open and the code resets.

There are 5 Flags, listed below are the amounts of symbols of them per flag. Each paper also shows only certain symbols, but they appear on different flags. These are listed next to the corresponding paper but are included in the totals below per flag.

What is the correct combination or sequence of symbols to open the door?

Symbol Totals Per Flag
A: 2V,1,HP,1S
B: 1H, 1V,1S
C: 2S,1V
D: 3S,2HP
E: 2HP,2S,1V



__

____
______

Paper 1 A: 1V, B: 1HP, C: 1S, D: 2S, E: 1HP
138 45 91
E > A
B ≤E

______
____
__
Paper 2 A: 1HP, B: 1S, C: 1V, D: 1S & 1HP, E: 1S & 1V
44 212 190
A < C
C > D


______
____
__
Paper 3 A: 1S & 1V, B: 1V, C: 1S, D: 1H, E: 1S & 1HP
61 42 94
D>B
D<C​

We were given a puzzle to solve. The puzzle is comprised of three separate "equations" for lack of a better term presented in attached photo. We were given a potential hint that is "Split the difference". the only other potential hint is a symbol found on each equation. The symbol is comprised of three lines of varying lengths. The lines are horizontal and stacked vertically either in largest to smallest or smallest to largest, depending on the equation.

What we know is the solution is permutation with repetition of only 3 choices and a maximum input of 25. We do not know if each equation provides an individual result or if the equations need to be combined for one result.

 

[Andrew153]

OK, let's clean this up a little:

Flags:
A: VV S H
B: V S H
C: V SS
D: SSS HH
E: V SS HH

Papers:
1
A: V
B: H
C: 1,
D: 2,
Unexpected values encountered. Missing data? Why do C and D only have numbers?
View attachment 359024
Processing halted.

We were given a puzzle to solve. The puzzle is comprised of three separate "equations" for lack of a better term presented in attached photo. We were given a potential hint that is "Split the difference". the only other potential hint is a symbol found on each equation. The symbol is comprised of three lines of varying lengths. The lines are horizontal and stacked vertically either in largest to smallest or smallest to largest, depending on the equation.

What we know is the solution is permutation with repetition of only 3 choices and a maximum input of 25. We do not know if each equation provides an individual result or if the equations need to be combined for one result.

 

[DaveC426913]

OK, so not only is this a riddle, but it is a mystery - i.e. we are left to surmise what bits are clues and what bits are not. (I saw the horizontal lines but I did not notice they were different, and that this is probably meaningful.)

Notably, it means I cannot "clean up" your nomenclature, by rearranging and consistentifying the order of the symbols, as I tried to do in post 2. For all we know, the symbols being in an inconsistent order is an important clue: (Flag 1: V H S, Flag 2: H V S)

 

[Andrew153]

OK, so not only is this a riddle, but it is a mystery - i.e. we are left to surmise what bits are clues and what bits are not. (I saw the horizontal lines but I did not notice they were different, and that this is probably meaningful.)

Notably, it means I cannot "clean up" your nomenclature, by rearranging and consistentifying the order of the symbols, as I tried to do in post 2. For all we know, the symbols being in an inconsistent order is an important clue: (Flag 1: V H S, Flag 2: H V S)

ok... ill give you a cleaned up version of what I tried to explain yesterday... in photo form...

 

[DaveC426913]

I have some further questions:

We were given a puzzle to solve.

1. Who is "we" and where are we? The reason I ask is that this might give us some context for the nature of the riddle. I would look this very differently if it were given to you in a college math class than if it were given to you by an one-eyed skeleton in a D&D RPG game.
   
   
2. Can we ask for clarification of elements as we proceed, or are we thrown in the deep end, only to emerge if we present a contender for a solution?
   
   

3. What we know is the solution is permutation with repetition of only 3 choices and a maximum input of 25. We do not know if each equation provides an individual result or if the equations need to be combined for one result.

   Does that mean we only know if we got the right combo by dialling it in and seeing of the lock is opened? Which means our remedy is to simply present you with a sequence of actions and you respond with "It opens" or "it does not open" or "it resets".
   
   
4. Which raises the obvious fourth question: do you know the solution? Is that how we know if we've got it right? If you tell us?

 

[Andrew153]

I have some further questions:

1. Who is "we" and where are we? The reason I ask is that this might give us some context for the nature of the riddle. I would look this very differently if it were given to you in a college math class than if it were given to you by an one-eyed skeleton in a D&D RPG game.
   
   
2. Can we ask for clarification of elements as we proceed, or are we thrown in the deep end, only to emerge if we present a contender for a solution?
   
   
3. 
   Does that mean we only know if we got the right combo by dialling it in and seeing of the lock is opened? Which means our remedy is to simply present you with a sequence of actions and you respond with "It opens" or "it does not open" or "it resets".
   
   
4. Which raises the obvious fourth question: do you know the solution? Is that how we know if we've got it right? If you tell us?

1.) "We" is an ARG
2.) I would say there is no more clarification that I know as of yet
3.) Yes. solution will either work or it won't.
4.) No, I don't know the solution, but the lock on the door will be opened with the correct solution.

 

[DaveC426913]

:furiously Googles ARG:
Alternate Reality Game

You miss my point re: questions 3 and 4. How will WE know if we have the right solution? We are guessing, even once we suppose we have a solution. We will have no idea if we're even on the right track until you try it.

Because we're interpreting meaning in things. It's not going to be "Ah. I have solved it." It's going to be "This seems like it might be what the clues are trying to tell us."

Its going to be:
"Is this it?"
:tick tick tick: "Nope, try again."
"How about this?"
:tick tick tick: "Nope, try again."
"How about this?"
Etc.

That's gonna take days of back and forth.

 

[Andrew153]

How can I word this... and not make it dizzying or confusing.

With the information provided... there should be a solution in there with the math of it for a sequence of the symbols to be enter in a correct order. That order has a total of 25 max inputs or interacts between the three symbols. IE-S,H,H,V,V,S,S etc, etc. Another example of a solution maybe something like V(valve) is first and press it 12 times, S (Skull) is second and press it 7 times and (headphones) last and press it 6 times. ( seems less likely to us )

And yes, there might be a need for a cipher... which we can handle once we know if we have the math of it correct and or perhaps someone else sees things we don't.

Others and I have difference of opinions on the solution for the just the equations. Which is strange since math only has one answer when done correctly. I can share those but wanted to see what others may also come up with first as not to skew ones thinking and process.

And as far as it taking days... what fun would a puzzle be if it was easy? :) ;But there is a dedicated group that if someone would say try this 25-symbol sequence will jump on it in less than 3 minutes time. And we would know if it works by trying the said sequence and the buttons become no longer interactive, and some reward is given.

And with these things there is always a right solution.

I understand completely if it's not your thing. Just looking for help on the math of equations I suppose more than anything.

I thank you for even looking at it. Cheers.

 

[DaveC426913]

... math only has one answer when done correctly.

My point though, is that this is not math. It's creative intepretation.

If it were a cipher, we could see progress. Here, we will not. It's all or nothing. There is no feedback channel to let us know even if we're 99% of the way to the solution.

I'm not trying to poo-poo the idea, just trying to set realistic expectations about the nature of the puzzle and trying to solve it second-hand.