Petals Around the Rose: Difference between revisions
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3) The answer is always even. |
3) The answer is always even. |
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==Solution== |
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The most common solution to the puzzle Petals Around the Rose is the idea that the center dots on the dice for the numbers one, three, and five are akin to roses, and that the dots on those dice around the center dot are the petals around the rose. Therefore, the die for one has zero petals, the die for three has two petals, and the die for five has four petals. The solution is the summation of all petals on the dice rolled. |
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Another way of reaching the same solution is to say that the correct answer is the total sum of all odd dice rolled minus the number of odd dice rolled. Using either technique, the solution to a roll of 1,3,4,5,3 is 8. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 07:58, 23 March 2006
Petals Around the Rose is a lateral thinking mind game played with five dice. The game is run either using a computer program or using physical dice that are rolled by a Potentate of the Rose. For each roll of the dice, there is a single numerical solution. The Potentate of the Rose, as the only player who knows how this solution is computed, will tell the players the answer, and it is their task to figure out how this solution is arrived at. To figure this out, they must use the answers to previous rolls and may only be told that the answer is always an even whole number, including 0, and that the name of the game is petals around the rose, which is significant. Once a person figures out how the answer is computed, they become a Potentate of the Rose themselves. It is regarded that it is poor form to explain to another person how the answer is attained.
Brief discussion
One of the explanations that often accompany instructions to this game is the claim that the smarter an individual is, the greater amount of difficulty the individual will have in solving it. If such a statement is true, it may be attributed to the fact that "smarter" people generally are more knowledgeable in regards to a wide range of information which may be drawn upon in order to attempt to solve the puzzle, often in the form of complex mathematical equations requiring somewhat advanced skills in the field, despite the fact that the correct solution requires rather simple calculation.
Whatever the case, Petals Around The Rose is in itself an interesting study of how the mind works at a problem; linear thinking vs lateral thinking, analytical intelligence vs creative intelligence. That a young Bill Gates puzzled over it for hours (before memorising enough roll combinations to get the answer right every time, despite not figuring out exactly what the theory was) speaks for itself.
The game itself is often played with five dice, though the basic principle of the game allows for any number of dice to be used.
Another integral part of the puzzle is the secrecy with which it attempts to hide the solution, urging those who have solved the puzzle to never reveal the solution to others.
There are 3 rules:
1) The name of the game is "Petals Around the Rose".
2) The name is important.
3) The answer is always even.