plasmid

I think that I'm missing something in the solution. It seems to prove that (I-Am)64 = 0. That's fine and good, but doesn't that just mean that if the butler chooses some number m and always rotates the table by m seats, then the strategy will work? I thought that the butler could choose a different random number of seats to turn the table on each move (otherwise it would be pretty easy to solve it in two turns).

Finally finished with a murderous labor day weekend at work. my math is not strong enough to prove a min for the fastest car. Yes, but since N can be any integer, the set {N} is contained within the set {N/2}... that is, for example, if cars A and B will cross after 12 laps, they will cross after 24/2 laps, so that possibility would be accounted for with my approach. Um... I don't follow what you're talking about? If a car is traveling at speed A km/h and is faster than another car traveling at B km/h, then the distance between the two cars will increase by (A-B) km/h. So A will lap B after some amount of time T where (A km/h - B km/h) x T h = [Total length of the track in km] You can calculate where they cross, and if it's after traveling N/2 times the total length of the track (where N is an integer), then they will cross at the intersection.

Yep, my proof is flawed all right! The reason it's interesting as a riddle is that the flaw is rather subtle and can easily be missed. It's kind of like a "proof" that I once saw that I can now only vaguely remember, but went something along the lines of ... That was, if nothing else, rather entertaining the first time I saw it. As for the trapeze, well, I had enough information to come up with a solution . Admittedly, there's a fair deal of slogging through equations that's easy to get bogged down in, and that can make you lose sight of the bigger picture and concepts behind how to attack it in such a way that you can reach the solution. That probably made it seem like less of a "riddle" and more of a "problem" for anyone who might have tried to take it on. I'll have to remember to avoid that if possible in future riddles.

You might be a math nerd when in geometry class you hear about laws of congruency for triangles with the Side-Side-Side (SSS) rule, the Side-Angle-Side (SAS) rule, and the Angle-Side-Angle (ASA) rules, and are very disappointed that there is not an Angle-Side-Side rule. You're definitely a math nerd when this fact disappoints you so much that you come up with of the Angle-Side-Side rule that stumps the rest of your class. You might be a math nerd if you try to solve math/logic puzzles on BrainDen. You're most probably a math nerd if you post your own math/logic puzzles on BrainDen. You're definitely a math nerd if you post that no one has tried to answer for nearly a week now.

MidnightLove nails this one

The lantern guess is extremely close. It fits the doused with water dry as stone clue, and most of the rest of the riddle, but isn't something that'd be used for the last two lines.

Ah, ever so close. As much as I'd want to call it close enough, the clues about "make a fist", and "see the field that you'll explore ... or beg for more" are pointing toward something else in particular.

Thanks, Wilson! And Shakee's on the right track, but as usual I'm a specific tangible object.

Not a table saw, as it typically doesn't involve dousing or fists and stone striking. I had to read up a bit to comment on welding. Oxy-fuel welding in particular can be used for certain stone working applications, and perhaps requires a flint for ignition (I'm still not sure about that), but most other forms like arc welding don't seem to involve stone striking. The toughest line to fit would be the penultimate: some fancy hosing is needed to deliver the fuel for oxy-fuel welding, but nothing complicated enough to classify it as a tree. Hello EDM! Perhaps there are various things made of plastic that could each fit various clues, but I'm looking for something more specific.

Doused with water, dry as bone Make a fist and strike a stone Close the book and leave the stick Pull the lever, hear the click See the field that you'll explore Raise a screen or beg for more Find the branch beneath a meal Laid upon the lofty steel

Looks like this was a breeze for the likes of tiger lily!

Exposed I brandish a cheerful facade Beneath I carry the cross My path is guided by whispers from God With prayers my soul not be lost A lifeline's cast toward innocents young On this we closely attend To spread the joy with those I'm among And thus I'd hope to ascend Though mankind's power might tempt and draw lust 'Twould spell our downfall forthwith From ash to ash and from dust back to dust 'Less saved by key from the myth The devil schemes toward nefarious ends With goal to waylay or maul A gnarled hand from his hell he extends To snare me off from this call

You come upon the grounds where a traveling circus is setting up camp, and notice what appears to be a fight about to break out. The ringleader is facing the wrath of one of the strongmen, who has just lifted the proprietor of the circus overhead in an apparent prelude to a smashing. Amidst the ringleader's begs for mercy, you ask what the trouble is. The strongman explains that he's sure the ringleader is paying some of the performers with counterfeit coins. He points toward several sacks of coins in a corner of a small tent and explains that one of them is bound to be full of counterfeits that are either slightly heavier or slightly lighter than genuine coins. The circus of course has a balance with which you can weigh the coins, but naturally the balance is on the brink of collapse and will only be able to provide a few more weighings to infinite precision before its warranty expires and it disintegrates. They ask if you might help them figure out if any of the bags are full of counterfeit coins, and if so, which. Using your problem solving skills from the first few "puzzle land"s, since you can't find any noticeable difference between the coins on close inspection without using the balance, you haul all the cash to the local bank and deposit the coins in exchange for bills. The exchange proceeds without a complaint from the teller, and you win the circus crew's gratitude for giving them pay that's slightly less likely to be bogus, as well as a ticket to see their show. But now they have another question for you. They're setting up the trapeze act and are wondering how far apart the platforms can be placed. Those who have seen a circus are probably familiar with a typical trapeze setup. There's a high platform at one end of the circus, a trapeze with a bar that the acrobat can grasp from the platform, a second trapeze (often carrying someone who catches the first acrobat), and another platform after the second trapeze. You would naturally want the platforms to be as far apart as possible to put on a good show, but also don't want the acrobats to be doomed to fail. How far apart can the two platforms be? Assume that the platforms are at the same height as the axis of the trapezes, and the ropes on both trapezes are equal in length. And as usual with "How would you cross puzzle land" riddles, either solving the riddle legitimately or cheating is acceptable, but cheating strategies must be creative and funny.

Since Mandrake in London (of Earth) seems to have been told that another dimension was merging with his, I will assume that the alien dimension is encroaching through rifts on both the Kingdom of Infinity and Earth. If this requires correction, then scream and whine at me. Snowpaw: An evening nap under the fading sunlight caps a day marked by one less mouse to menace the neighbourhood. I lie content in slumber, rousing briefly to seek a slightly more comfortable pose, when I catch a glimpse of what seems to be an ill-timed flicker of sunlight. Now fully awoken from my catnap, unsure if the persistent faintly odd colour of the room was simply a hypnopompic illusion, the question is soon made moot by another glimmer coming from the direction opposite the sun. Could that simply have been a reflection from a passing trolly? Somehow I thought not, and my suspicions only grew as Mandrake called me forth. Falling a short distance from the spot in the air into which I was summoned, after a bit of nimble aerobatics for a four point landing, it took a moment to recognize Mandrake's workplace. It wasn't often that I was summoned here. The master's expression serves to reinforce the gravity of the situation. "So, gov'ner, we're off then, are we?" The words had barely crossed my lips before I find myself hoisted by the scruff and being carried out the door.

Headslaps coming in 3... 2... 1...

If you are not North American, then perhaps this could be

This seems a little off-the-wall, but I can't help thinking of

Shifting gears away from my power tool guesses

Modifying my previous answer And congratulations on VIPdom, sensai

Sounds good to me, I might as well be able to speak since I bet no one would have the restraint to not read the spoilers anyway. Well, Aaryan, you're not allergic to cats, are you?

I won't have time to log in regularly and play as much of a role as a typical player should, but perhaps I could play a little supporting role. USERNAME: plasmid NAME: snowpaw RACE: felis catus (domestic cat) AGE: 3 (that's 28 in human years) APPEARANCE: see my avatar PROFESSION: hunting mice OWNED BY: the first player to say they want me as their pet (take THAT, rule #2! Mua ha ha) OTHER INFO: For the most part he wanders off and tends to his own business, oblivious to the unimportant trivialities that consume the time and attention of these larger, less graceful, and pitifully unfurry creatures. On rare occasions (as if a higher power had broken free from work and turned his gaze elsewhere) he pays attention to these lower beings' trials and tribulations, and might grace them with his intervention. But he expects to be worshiped with belly rubs and string to play with for these magnanamous deeds. LIVES REMAINING: still 9 EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE: He has no opposable thumbs and therefore cannot use any standard weaponry (but he does seem to be able to use a computer). Occasionally wears a collar, would not be caught dead wearing a pet sweater. But since he is unarmed and is a cat, he is generally not recognized as a threat until after he initiates an attack. SPECIAL ABILITIES: Always lands on his feet after a fall from any height. Makes susceptible creatures sneeze and get watery eyes, reducing both their stealth and accuracy. LANGUAGE: can communicate with other cats, his owner, and any characters that specifically have the ability to understand animals (actions appear outside spoilers, communication appears inside spoilers, open them only if you have this ability). understands human language perfectly. CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER?: 4 shore! lolol