GC4JM32 - Puzzle Week #1

GC4JM32 - Puzzle Week #1

By:  redhead3434

1. Here is the puzzle.

Geocache Description:

This is a puzzle cache that requires you to solve a puzzle to obtain the coordinates of the final cache container. These false coordinates are within one mile of the final cache. You can check your final coordinates by clicking the little Geocheck icon at the bottom of the cache description so that you don't end up searching around in the wrong spot!

This next week, my goal is to post one new puzzle cache each day. They will all be winter-friendly hides in the Medford area. I thought I would start off with an easy Sudoku puzzle.







N 45° AB.CDE' W 090° FG.HIJ'

AB= A3 + F4
C= D6 - I5
DE= I8 * A2
F= E4
GH= D5 * I2
IJ= B2 + D6 * C5

Additional Hints:

pemdas



2.  Solve the Sudoku Puzzle.

Here is the original puzzle.

This puzzle will use the numbers 1-9.  Each number must be used one time in each Row, Column, or Square of 9 Boxes; however it can't be used more than once in each location.

Using this rule, start by filling in numbers that are easy to identify.

Now we will look at Column 3 and Squares 4 and 7.

In Square 7, the 5 can only go in Column B, because Column 1 is completed and there is already a 5 in Column C.  Therefore, in Square 4, the 5 must go in Column A.  Since Square 4 only has one box available in Column A, that is where the 5 must go.

Next, Square 3 can be completed.  Notice that Row 1 has a 3 and a 6 in other squares.  That means the 3 and 6 can't go in Row 1 for Square 3.  Therefore they must go in the two remaining boxes.  Since we can't tell which boxes they go in, yet, place them in both boxes.

In Row 1, there are only two unsolved numbers, 7 and 9.  Place these numbers in the unsolved boxes.

For Column A, there are three unsolved numbers; 7, 8, and 9.  Since Row 3 already has both 7 and 9, Row 3 Column A must be an 8.  Place 7 and 9 in the last to unsolved boxes in Column A.

For Square 1, there are two remaining empty boxes.  Since 2 and 6 are the only unidentified numbers in Square 1, place 2 and 6 in the last two empty boxes.

Now look at Row 2.  Since 2 and 6 have been identified as the only solutions for the boxes they were placed in, they can't be used to solve any other boxes in Row 2.  Therefore, the last box in Row 2 must be a 3, which makes the final box in Square 3 the 6.

Square 6 can be completed next.  In Column G, the only remaining numbers are 6 and 9. Since Row 4 already has a 6, the 9 will go in Square 6 Box 1 and the 6 will go in Box 4.  You can see that the only place for the 5 is Box 2, because Rows 5 and 6 already have 5's.  That leaves 1, 2, and 3.  Since Column I already has both 2 and 3, Box 6 must be the 1.  Place 2 and 3 in the remaining boxes.

Row 3, Column A must be 8, because the 7 and 9 have been solved for that row.  Also, Square 1, Box 4 can no longer be an 8.  The remaining two boxes in Row 3 must be 2 or 3, so those numbers can be placed in the unsolved boxes.

In Row 2, the remaining unsolved numbers are 7, 8, and 9.  Since 8 can't go in Column F, it must go in Square 2, Box 5, so either 7 or 9 must go in Box 6.

Square 4, Box 9 must be a 1, because the 1's have been solved in the other rows and columns for that square.

Square 5, Box 4 must be an 8, because the 8's have been solved in the other rows and columns for that square.  Box 5 must be a 7, because Rows 4 and 6 already have 7's, and it is the only remaining box that is available.  Boxes 7 and 8 must be either 6 or 9, because Row 4 already has those numbers.  Therefore, Box 2 must be a 2, and Box 3 must be a 3.

Go back to Square 4.  Box 2 must be an 8, because there are already 8's in Rows 5 and 6.  Box 5 must be a 9, because Row 4 already has a 9 and Row 6 has the 6 and 9 boxes identified..  That leaves 2 and 3.  Since there is already a 3 in Column C, the 3 must go in Box 8, and the 2 must go in Box 6.

Column C can now be solved.  Since the 2 has been solved, Row 2 Column C must be the 6 and Row 2 Column B must be the 2.  That leaves only the 8 in Column C, which will go in the bottom box.

In Column F, the 3 has been solved, so Column F Row 3 must be the 2, and Column D, Row 3 must be the 3.

In Square 6, Box 5 must be the 3, and Box 8 must be the 2.

In Square 8, Box 4 must be the 2, because Columns E and F and Rows 7 and 9 already have 2's.

Here are the rest of the boxes filled in with potential solutions.  See if you can figure out the numbers that won't work, and why.

Here are the potential solutions that won't work.

Look at Row 7.  Since there are two boxes that must be either 7 or 9, Square 8 Box 1 can't be either 7 or 9, so it must be a 6. 

That means Square 7 Box 2 must be a 5, and Square 7 Box 8 must be a 6.

Now look at Square 9.  Box 9 must be a 5, and Box 6 must be a 6.

Therefore Square 8 Box 8 must be 9, Square 9 Box 8 must be 7, Square 9 Box 2 must be 9, Square 8 Box 3 must be 7, and Square 8 Box 5 must be 5.

The Sudoku can be completed as follows:

Row 6 Column E is 6; Row 6 Column D is 9; Row 1 Column D is 7; Row 2 Column F is 9; Row 2 Column A is 7; and Row 1 Column A is 9.

Here is the solved Sudoku.

3.  Solve the Puzzle.


N 45° AB.CDE, W 090° FG.HIJ

AB= A3 + F4
C= D6 - I5
DE= I8 * A2
F= E4
GH= D5 * I2 IJ= B2 + D6 * C5
Start by identifying the Puzzle Values:

A3 = 8
F4 = 3
D6 = 9
I5 = 1
I8 = 6
A2 = 7
E4 = 2
D5 = 8
I2 = 3
B2 = 2
D6 = 9
C5 = 2

Now you will need to use the PEMDAS Order of Operations to solve the puzzle.

Here is a link to the PEMDAS Order of Operations.

PEMDAS - Order of Operations

Solve the puzzle.
A3 = 8
F4 = 3
D6 = 9
I5 = 1
I8 = 6
A2 = 7
E4 = 2
D5 = 8
I2 = 3
B2 = 2
D6 = 9
C5 = 2

AB = A3 + F4 = 8 + 3 = 11

AB = 11

C = D6 - I5 = 9 - 1 = 8

C = 8

DE = I8 * A2 = 6 * 7 = 42

DE = 42

F = E4 = 2

F = 2

GH = D5 * I2 = 8 * 3 = 24

GH = 24

IJ = B2 + D6 * C5 = 2 + (9 * 2) = 2 + 18 = 20 IJ = 20



4.  Put together the Solved Coordinates.
Puzzle Coordinates:  N 45° AB.CDE, W 090° FG.HIJ

Solved Coordinates:

   N 45° 11.842, W 090° 22.420   

5.  Verify the Solved Coordinates.

Verify the Solved Coordinates with GeoCheck.

GeoCheck - Puzzle Week #1