From cube-lovers-errors@oolong.camellia.org Tue Jul 15 13:18:23 1997 Return-Path: cube-lovers-errors@oolong.camellia.org Received: from oolong.camellia.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by oolong.camellia.org (8.6.12/8.6.12) with SMTP id NAA10958; Tue, 15 Jul 1997 13:18:23 -0400 Precedence: bulk Errors-To: cube-lovers-errors@oolong.camellia.org Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 09:41:28 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199707151341.JAA00944@spork.bbn.com> From: Allan Wechsler To: jandr@xirion.nl Cc: Allan Wechsler , cube-lovers@ai.mit.edu Subject: Re: hockey puck puzzle In-Reply-To: <9707151143.AA27610@la1.apd.dec.com> References: <199707141759.NAA00043@spork.bbn.com> <9707151143.AA27610@la1.apd.dec.com> [Jan de Ruiter:] The puzzle contains edge pieces and center pieces, all with the same thickness as the puck. There are always two center pieces which together form the inner circle. In this case there are 12 edge pieces which together form the outer ring. Simpeler pucks might contain less than 12 edge pieces, but always an even number. The possible moves are: 1. rotate one center piece with half of the edge pieces 180 degrees relative to the other center piece and the other half of the edge pieces. 2. rotate the edge pieces around the center pieces, always multiples of 30 degrees, or 1/12 of a circle (or more if there are less edge pieces) I know the puck with 6 edge pieces is near trivial to solve. I haven't tried the other ones yet. Jan de Ruiter Thanks for the description -- Pete ("Karen Angelli") provided an identical one in a private reply. But this is still incomplete. Are the obverse and reverse of the individual pieces distinguishable? Suppose I manage to flip every other edge piece over in place (not sure this is possible). Does it then look solved? Or do the two sides have different colors or a distinguishing mark or something? I haven't tried it, but I can't imagine that this puzzle would be very difficult. -A