Puzzle Description:

This puzzle was inspired by Brian's series of series. Brian doesn't have the answer to this one. It's not out of a book or off the Internet, it's straight from my head to yours. Clue: The border is significant. Can you figure out what the next number is?

#1: Tom Siebert (tsiebert) on Jan 2, 2012 [SPOILER]

Off hand, I'd guess "3" as the completion of the mirror image of the first box. But I have no clue as to what the numbers mean, or if my guess to what's next is right. (BTW, I got all of Brian's right away, seeing them in the order 2,3,1.)

Will you answer questions?
1. Is it a Mathematical series?
2. Does one need a particular expertise to solve?
3. Is it the first words of the Rosetta Stone translated into hexadecimal?

Tom, I didn't notice that. Sorry, that would have been too easy. :-)

Brian:

1. It is not mathematical like the IQ test series, but it is mathematical in that the next in the series is a number. It is more of a sequence than a series. The numbers are representative of something that has a mathematical basis but that no one really thinks of as mathematical. Are you confused yet?

2. I would say no special expertise is needed (as in only someone with a certain expertise would be able to solve it), but others might argue otherwise. I would say what is needed is common knowledge about a specific subject, everybody knows it, so anyone can figure it out.

3. No, it is nothing as complicated as that. As in most puzzles like this, you will say, "Oh yeah, I get it now," and then you will be able to provide the next several numbers in the sequence.

Yep figured 3 was too easy but it was my first thought. Now I'll give it some more thoughts.

You say the border is significant,i'm going to say 2. If i'm right i'll divulge my line of reasoning,otherwise i won't say. I'm not very good at these things and i don't wish to look more dopey than most people already realize i am.lol:)

Must be 3. There's a mirror there?

Aldege, if you are right, and the next number is 2, then you should be able to continue with the next several numbers after that. The sequence eventually ends.

Well, everyone, there you go, another clue.

If the answer is not guessed (and explained) soon, I will give you a major clue. But try and figure it out first.

Very intriguing.

Definitely a 6! ...it's the middle portion of this series:

-----------------------------
| 462 | 3345 | 54369 | 2957 |
-----------------------------

Is that a mathematical series? My puzzle is not a mathematical series, but it is a number sequence in sets of four, and the image shows the first set and most of the second set. If you guess right, you will know the last number in the second set and the 8 numbers in the next two sets.

just mathematical in the sense you described in your hint...

i thought for sure that I had it since it fit the puzzle AND seemed so obvious...my sequence is simply the 2000 census population numbers for Texas cities having at least one Y in the city's name and containing at least one high school with a bulldog mascot and then sorted alphabetically by city name.

are you SURE that's not right, Teresa?

Is it musical, Teresa?

actually, music and poetry (syllable counts, etc.) are what her (mathematical) clues made me think of too.

Now guys are thinking outside the math box. Good!

Move from your left brain to your right brain.

If you think you get it, post the next 8 numbers in the sequence, if you can. (The fourth box only has 3 numbers.) Oh heck, just post all 15 numbers. :-)

I'm not sure I have a right brain.

how about this?
----------------------------
| 3345 | 5432 | 1123 | 322 |
----------------------------

...i still like my first guess ;)

I have it narrowed down to ten possibilities. Does that count for something? :)

EUREKA!!!

I agree with David #16. (Though I prefer the obviousness of David #11.)

If he's right, then the second series of 15 starts with the same 12, but ends in 211.

The third series is 17 numbers. Unboxed so as to not add clues, that series is: 2231234312343212-2. (That's negative 2 as the last number.)

Then the second series of 15 repeats.

And if all that was right, then this was a joy to solve.

David got it, and Tom S got it!

Now wasn't that fun?

Everyone who still needs a hint... Tom gave you a big one in his last sentence.

Just say the numbers out loud...
3345 | 5432 | 1123 | 322
3345 | 5432 | 1123 | 211

Listen to the way the numbers sound, maybe you will hear it. Even a person who is deaf can hear it in his head. :-)

Only when you are totally desperate and give up...
Or a reward for you if you did solve it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wod-MudLNPA

Ode to Joy
More song puzzles, please.

That's excellent! It reminds me of the Ultima games, which (in Ultima V?) let you play a piano using the number keys. If you played the song "Stones" (written about Stonehenge), it opened a locked door. It went as follows:
6789878767653

Here's the later, more elaborate version on piano:
http://www.germanenforcers.de/ultima/Widiar_Stones.mp3

This is brilliant! Thank you for a lovely puzzle that challenged my brain just the right amount.

wow - missed it completely - love the answer
brilliant puzzle

Goto next topic

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