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$10K for solving a math equation

joshjames.com

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Re: $10K for solving a math equation

#31

Post by Tichy »

wbhart wrote: post #29
Tichy wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps delta is the port. How do you scan for validity of an IP address?

You can just type the IP address into your browser. But that is unlikely to be it. If the puzzle maker has even half a brain, those four numbers are only some part of the puzzle. If you look at the equations, they are way more complex than they need to be to give those four numbers. There must be additional data encoded there somehow. Of course if the puzzle maker is clever, there'll also be a clue there somewhere. O…

But wouldn't the browser only check for port 80?

Agreed that it's probably not the solution, just wondering.

Re: $10K for solving a math equation

#33

Post by o1iver »

lotharbot wrote: post #8

Four equations, five unknowns, all linear. This isn't particularly difficult, just tedious. Because there are more unknowns than equations, your solution should itself be an equation expressing one of the unknowns as a linear function of the other four -- omega = a * beta + b * gamma + c * phi + d * mu, where a, b, c, and d are found by chugging away using your favorite linear solution technique (Gaussian elimination…

Actually as you can see from the answer below. Omega can actually be eliminated from every equation and there are thus 4 variables, 4 equations -> solvable

Re: $10K for solving a math equation

#34

Post by vyrotek »

lurker14 wrote: post #6
summitpush wrote: post #5

The careers link jumps to corda.com. Does this mean the company name has already been solved?

Corda is an old company with an old enterprisey XML product. Josh James bought Corda http://allthingsd.com/20110427/exclusive-whats-former-omnitu... Looks like he's trying to remake Corda into something useful. Of note, both Omniture and Corda are based in Utah. When he went shopping, he didn't look far. It's interesting that he doesn't have any non-compete agreements in place stopping him from competing with the $1.…

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50864867-76/adobe-james-co...

Re: $10K for solving a math equation

#35

Post by arandomJohn »

wbhart wrote: post #29
Tichy wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps delta is the port. How do you scan for validity of an IP address?

You can just type the IP address into your browser. But that is unlikely to be it. If the puzzle maker has even half a brain, those four numbers are only some part of the puzzle. If you look at the equations, they are way more complex than they need to be to give those four numbers. There must be additional data encoded there somehow. Of course if the puzzle maker is clever, there'll also be a clue there somewhere. O…

I've stared at this thing for 30 minutes trying to extract text from it. There is probably some trick meant to be clever that will strike people as obnoxious once they hear it.

Re: $10K for solving a math equation

#36

Post by [deleted] »

Tichy wrote: post #31
wbhart wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can just type the IP address into your browser. But that is unlikely to be it. If the puzzle maker has even half a brain, those four numbers are only some part of the puzzle. If you look at the equations, they are way more complex than they need to be to give those four numbers. There must be additional data encoded there somehow. Of course if the puzzle maker is clever, there'll also be a clue there somewhere. O…

But wouldn't the browser only check for port 80? Agreed that it's probably not the solution, just wondering.

[deleted]

Re: $10K for solving a math equation

#37

Post by arandomJohn »

Tichy wrote: post #31
wbhart wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can just type the IP address into your browser. But that is unlikely to be it. If the puzzle maker has even half a brain, those four numbers are only some part of the puzzle. If you look at the equations, they are way more complex than they need to be to give those four numbers. There must be additional data encoded there somehow. Of course if the puzzle maker is clever, there'll also be a clue there somewhere. O…

But wouldn't the browser only check for port 80? Agreed that it's probably not the solution, just wondering.

no, you can force the browser to another port thusly: 68.231.158.1:553

Re: $10K for solving a math equation

#38

Post by wbhart »

The competition is apparently suspended. I don't understand how part of the solution could "become public" unless someone at his company leaked the info.

I guess you combine the four numbers Mu = 231, Phi = 158, Delta = 553, Beta = 68 to get a phone number, which you call to get the next clue. Though which order is anyone's guess. Useless if you live outside the US too.

I don't think this was a well thought out puzzle.

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