Help With Puzzle Caches Using Numbers

[+Xtremeskier1978]

Been working some puzzles which, in the past, I've skipped over as I had no idea where to start. It's high time to figure these things out. The caches that escape me involve sets of four digit numbers that use all numbers from 0-9. They are usually grouped in a grid of sorts. 8 columns and 16 rows for example. I have no idea where to begin even after laboriously combing the internet for some sort of clue. Another type involves 4 strings of numbers with 10 numbers in each string...once again ranging from 0-9. I believe that there is a key word highlighted for this type but, once again, don't know where to begin. I'm not looking to hand over a GC code and have people figure it out for me but am looking for some sort of finger point in the right direction.

 

Cheers

[+Tee4Par]

Puzzle caches are a lot of fun, but can be difficult to resolve. There are some sites that do offer some help. The one I use most often is the following:

 

http://www.geocachingtoolbox.com

 

Good lunck

[+lee737]

I've seen some mysteries involving long strings of digits where the answer was given by simply multiplying or adding them together, the resulting answer being the lat-long....

[+niraD]

I've found a lot of puzzle caches that might fit that description. There is no one way to solve them. Anyway, here are some general puzzle tips (based in part on a puzzle-solving class event presented by The Rat a while ago) that I've posted before:

 

Identify the theme. Check the cache title, the hint, the HTML source, the graphics (including names/URLs), any links (including URLs), whatever is at the posted coordinates, etc. If you can figure out the theme, then you should look for numbering systems that are associated with that theme (zip codes, athletes’ jersey numbers, episode numbers, product codes, etc.).

 

Around here, coordinates will have 15 digits, and will look like "N 37° xx.xxx W 122° xx.xxx". So when I'm solving a nearby puzzle, I look for a group of 15 things, and then I look for ways to get the digits 37xxxxx122xxxxx from them. In general, I look for ways to get the number 37 (or the digits 3 and 7) from something near the beginning of the puzzle, and the number 122 (or the digits 1, 2, and 2) from something near the middle of the puzzle. (Of course, you'll need to adjust this for the coordinates near you.)

 

Other useful resources include:

Puzzle Solving 101 Series (bookmark list)

Calgary Puzzle Solving 101 (bookmark list)

Puzzle Shortcuts Series (bookmark list)

Solving Puzzle Caches (online article)

How Do I Solve All These $@! Puzzle Caches? (tutorial-style puzzle cache)

Puzzle FUNdamentals (archived event cache) and the Puzzle FUNdamentals resources on the GeocacheAlaska! education page

The GBA's Puzzle Cache FAQ (for puzzle designers, but useful for understanding how puzzle caches work)

LANAKI's Classical Cryptography Course

How to Puzzle Cache (book)