Answers to Sage's yearly client puzzles

Dime Dilemma

2022

Can you insert the dime into the large circular area?   The 10 cent challenge is whether you can do it in 5 minutes.  Very few people will accomplish this!  Its a lot harder than it may look.

Based on circle packing mathematics where the area of each piece increases by an area equal to the #1 circle.

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Solution

We all need help sometimes, just like we can help you solve this puzzle, we can help you with your other puzzling cases involving forensic accounting, economic damages, or business valuation.

Solitaire

2021

To setup the standard puzzle place the pegs on the gameboard, leaving the center hole empty. You can jump over a peg with an adjacent peg vertically or horizontally (not diagonally). When you jump over a peg, remove it. Multiple jumps with one peg are allowed.

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Solution

There are more than one solution to the standard game. To describe the steps required, each hole is given a number as shown in the diagram below. The steps below show the peg movements by location:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
15-17
28-16
21-23
24-22
26-24
33-25
18-30
31-33-25
09-23
01-09
06-18-30-28-16-04
07-21-23-25
13-11
10-12
27-13-11
03-01-09
08-10-12-26-24-10
05-17

There are many other games that can be played with this Solitaire puzzle board by either changing the starting pattern (using fewer pegs) or by changing the goal finish pattern (trying to end up with 4 pegs in positions 9, 11, 23, and 25). The following websites are among many dedicated to Solitaire which you can visit to learn more about the game.

www.mathematische-basteleien.de
https://en.wikipedia.org
https://www.youtube.com

Half Hour Puzzle

2020

A very interesting 3x3x3 cube with only 1 solution. Designed by Stewart Coffin in 1975 who said that a half hour would be a good solution time.  At first glance it looks like a Soma Cube. But whereas a Soma has 240 possible cube solutions, this has only 1.

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Solution

If you are reading this solution then you must have scrambled the puzzle without taking the time to look at where the pieces belong. Good for you. Now let us help you figure out how to get it back together. First locate and arrange all the pieces in the order below and follow the steps to assemble the box.

Order of Pieces

Top View of Assembly with Location and Orientation of Pieces

Assembly Steps

Secret Lock Box

2019

The box has 5 sliding “keys” on each end.  You must orient these keys in exactly the correct position to allow the cover to unlock.  Not easy, but with patience it can be done.

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Solution

Orient the box so that the Sage logo is on top and readable from left to right (like the image above). Use the images below to pull keys 3, 5, 7, 10 toward you. After adjusting the correct keys, lift the lid of the box to open.

Count on me

2018

Even accountants sometimes have trouble getting numbers to fit where they are supposed to. Enjoy this year's puzzle and put yourself in our shoes.

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Solution

If you are reading this solution then you must have scrambled the puzzle without taking the time to look at where the pieces belong. Good for you. Now let us help you figure out how to get it back together.

Boxed Burr

2017

A challenging Tom Lensch design, the first puzzle is opening the box. When this is solved and you successfully disassemble the puzzle you will find there are six unique pieces. The pieces are notched and will interlock when assembled properly to reform the box. Good luck.

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Solution

Each piece of the block is inserted in the order below. Follow the steps to assemble the box.

Cracked Egg

2016

A challenging Stewart Coffin puzzle designed to allow only one workable solution. To complete the puzzle, all six pieces need to be placed inside the oval egg cutout.

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Solution

Follow the steps below to solve the Cracked Egg.

Cash Out

2015

To solve the puzzle you must find a way to retrieve the prize behind the window without breaking, altering, or otherwise causing any destruction to the puzzle. The solution does not require brute force, power tools, or persuasive argument.

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Solution

There is a small metal pin held in place by a magnet in the base of the puzzle which prevents the base from sliding off. To release the pin, hold the puzzle upright and hit the base against the palm of your hand. This should be forceful enough to release the pin and enable the base to slide off.

Log Jam

2014

The Log Jam puzzle was designed by Tesa Timonen of Sweden in 2002. It is easy to fit seven pieces into the box, its the last piece that is the killer. Can you solve it?

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Solution

The first step to solve the Log Jam is to arrange all the logs in descending order based on their height. You'll notice that there are two logs at every height increment. Follow the steps below to correctly place all of the logs into the box.

Cruiser

2013

A Stewart Coffin designed puzzle that combines apparent simplicity into something that is cunningly difficult. The goal is to get all four pieces into the rectangular opening in the base.

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Solution

This puzzle sucks you in by making you believe you are on the verge of solving it, but the solution remains elusive for much longer. Luckily, We have provided the solution for you below.

Redstone Box

2012

The red block on the top of the box or the "Redstone" must be placed into the box with the additional eight pieces. When you slide off the lid you will see that the box appears to be filled to the top. It may seem impossible, but it can be done.

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Safe Cracker 40

2011

Based on a hundred year old design, the object is to get each of the 16 columns of numbers to add to 40 at the same time. There is a base ring and then four rings that rotate on top. To complicate matters, the top sets of rings are all notched, so they will expose or hide some of the numbers on the ring below as the rings are turned. There is only one possible solution.

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Solution

Rotate each wheel until the numbers match up with the image below.

Triple Triangle

2010

This peg jumping game was first patented in 1891 by Herbert Smith. To play, select a peg and jump over an adjacent peg to a vacant hole. Remove the peg that was jumped. Repeat this process until there is only one peg left.

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Computer Chip

2009

The first task is to determine how to take the puzzle apart. Next, task is to reassemble the puzzle. This is not the most difficult puzzle we have released, but it is a fun one. There is only one possible solution.

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Grape Cluster

2008

Seven bunches of grapes will come together to form the cluster. This puzzle is a lot tougher than it looks.

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Soma Cube

2007

The cube unravels, staying in one piece like a snake. Once unraveled, can you get it back together? It may take you an hour or more to solve, but can easily be put together in under ten seconds with practice.

Solution Not Available
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