Practice Guide

Version 1.0 - Covers challenges 1 to 30

 Let’s practice!
Welcome to the Turing Tumble Practice Guide! This is a free companion to Turing
Tumble. This version of the guide covers the first 30 challenges in the book. If it’s
useful, we’ll do the same for the rest of the challenges.

The purposes of this guide are:

1. To cement important concepts. Practice challenges give another opportunity to

apply what you learned.
2. To offer hints when you’re stuck. Solve a practice challenge or read the
explanation of the solution. This guide lowers the learning curve.
3. To learn how puzzle solutions work. Each solution has an explanation that
describes how it works.
4. To offer the puzzles in an easily printable black and white format. Make as
many copies as you like.

What is the best way to use this practice guide?

The practice guide is meant to be used alongside the Turing Tumble puzzle book,
but it’s not meant to replace it. Unlike the Turing Tumble puzzle book, it doesn’t
contain instructions for how to assemble the computer, how to play, how the parts
work, and other bits of useful information.

Is this guide useful to you?

Please tell us what you think! We’re always looking for ways to make Turing
Tumble better. Just send us an email at [email protected].

Did you find an error?

Please send a quick email to [email protected] and we’ll fix it right away. We
don’t like bugs.
Contents
Challenge 1....................................................................................................................................................1
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 2.......................................................................................................3
Challenge 2..................................................................................................................................................5
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 3.......................................................................................................7
Challenge 3..................................................................................................................................................9
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 4...................................................................................................... 11
Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 4..................................................................................................... 13
Challenge 4................................................................................................................................................ 15
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 5..................................................................................................... 17
Challenge 5................................................................................................................................................19
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 6..................................................................................................... 21
Challenge 6............................................................................................................................................... 23
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 7.................................................................................................... 25
Challenge 7............................................................................................................................................... 27
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 8...................................................................................................29
Challenge 8................................................................................................................................................ 31
Practice Puzzle for Challenge 9........................................................................................................ 33
Challenge 9............................................................................................................................................... 35
Challenge 10............................................................................................................................................. 37
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 11...................................................................................................39
Challenge 11................................................................................................................................................41
Challenge 12..............................................................................................................................................43
Challenge 13..............................................................................................................................................45
Challenge 14............................................................................................................................................. 47
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 15..................................................................................................49
Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 15................................................................................................... 51
Challenge 15.............................................................................................................................................. 53
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 16..................................................................................................55
Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 16.................................................................................................. 57
Practice Puzzle C for Challenge 16..................................................................................................59
Challenge 16..............................................................................................................................................61
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 17..................................................................................................63
Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 17..................................................................................................65
Challenge 17.............................................................................................................................................. 67
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 18..................................................................................................69
Challenge 18.............................................................................................................................................. 71
Challenge 19............................................................................................................................................. 73
Challenge 20............................................................................................................................................ 75
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 21.................................................................................................. 77
Challenge 21.............................................................................................................................................. 79
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 22..................................................................................................81
Challenge 22.............................................................................................................................................83
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 23.................................................................................................85
Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 23.................................................................................................87
Practice Puzzle C for Challenge 23................................................................................................. 89
Challenge 23..............................................................................................................................................91
Challenge 24............................................................................................................................................93
Challenge 25............................................................................................................................................95
Challenge 26............................................................................................................................................ 97
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 27.................................................................................................99
Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 27................................................................................................ 101
Challenge 27........................................................................................................................................... 103
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 28............................................................................................... 105
Challenge 28.......................................................................................................................................... 107
Challenge 29..........................................................................................................................................109
Bonus Puzzle A for Challenge 29.................................................................................................... 111
Challenge 30........................................................................................................................................... 113
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 1: Gravity

Objective: Make all of the blue balls (and only the blue balls) reach
the end.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x4
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

1
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 1 Solution

Explanation: The four ramps complete the path from the top of the
board to the bottom of the board.

Remember that it’s against the rules to allow balls to fall freely for
any distance! When a ball rolls off a part, it must immediately land on
the next part.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

2
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 2

Objective: Make all of the blue balls (and only the blue balls) reach
the end.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x3
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

3
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 2-A Solution

Explanation: The ramps fill the gaps in the path from the top of the
board to the bottom of the board.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

4
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 2: Re-entry

Objective: Make all of the blue balls (and only the blue balls) reach
the end.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x5
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

5
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 2 Solution

Explanation: The starting setup leads the balls over onto the right
side. That’s a problem! If the balls hit the right lever, they’d release
red balls, but you’re only supposed to let the blue balls get to the
bottom.

To solve this puzzle, you have to use the 5 ramps to lead balls back
over to the left lever.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

6
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 3

Objective: Start the machine by releasing the blue ball. The blue ball
should then release the red ball.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x8
x1 x1

PRESS
TO
START

7
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 3-A Solution

Explanation: The 8 ramps make a path down to the right lever. When
the blue ball is released, it lands on the right lever, releasing the red
ball.

x1 x1

PRESS
TO
START

8
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 3: Ignition

Objective: Release one blue ball and then all of the red balls.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x6
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

9
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 3 Solution

Explanation: Like the last puzzle, the ramps bring the paths of the
red and blue balls into one path that leads to the right lever. After the
first blue ball, all the rest are red.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

10
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 4

Objective: Release one blue ball and then all of the red balls.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x6
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

11
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 4-A Solution

Explanation: The paths of the blue and red balls come together near
the bottom of the board and then lead to the red side. Since all paths
lead to the red side, only red balls are released after the first blue
ball.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

12
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 4

Objective: Release one red ball and then all of the blue balls.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x6
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

13
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 4-B Solution

Explanation: This is just like challenge 3, but everything is reversed!

Notice that the “Presser” is on the right side, not the left, so you start
the machine by pressing down the right lever. That makes the first
ball red.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

14
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 4: Fusion

Objective: Release one red ball and then all of the blue balls.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x 13
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

15
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 4 Solution

Explanation: The paths need to come together, but they start far
apart! Use the ramps to bring the paths together and lead all of the
balls to the left side.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

16
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 5

Objective: Make the pattern blue, red, blue, red, blue, red...

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x8 x8

x1

PRESS
TO
START

17
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 5-A Solution

Explanation: To get the alternating pattern, blue balls have to get to

the right side to release red balls, and red balls have to get to the left
side to release blue balls. The paths have to cross over each other!
Where they cross, use the crossover part.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

18
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 5: Entropy

Objective: Make the pattern blue, red, blue, red, blue, red...

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x9
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

19
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 5 Solution

Explanation: This time, you have to create your own path for the red
balls to get over to the left lever! You must use the crossover where
your path crosses the path of the blue balls.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

20
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 6

Objective: Make the pattern blue, red, blue, red, blue, red...

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x8 x8

x3

PRESS
TO
START

21
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 6-A Solution

Explanation: In this puzzle, the red and blue paths cross each other
three times! At each point where they cross, you must place a cross-
over.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

22
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 6: Total Internal Reflection

Objective: Make the pattern blue, red, blue, red, blue, red...

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x2
x8 x8

x5

PRESS
TO
START

23
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 6 Solution

Explanation: The paths for the red and blue balls cross over each
other five times. Crossovers must be placed at each point where they
cross.

In the last two puzzles, the paths crossed each other one and three
times. One, three, and five are all odd numbers. What would happen
if the paths crossed over each other an even number of times?

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

24
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 7

Objective: Create a path for the blue balls to reach the output with
only 6 ramps.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x6
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

25
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 7-A Solution

Explanation: At the top, you’ve got to decide, “Do I go to the left or to

the right?” The right is the better path because you can use two
crossovers instead of just one.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

26
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 7: Path of Least Resistance

Objective: Create a path for the blue balls to reach the output with
only 6 ramps.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x6
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

27
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 7 Solution

Explanation: This one is a little tricker than the last challenge. At the
top, you must make a choice on whether to go to the left or to the
right. You must go to the left this time.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

28
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 8

Objective: Make all of the blue balls (and only the blue balls) reach
the end.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x2
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

29
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 8-A Solution

Explanation: The bit sends the blue balls in alternating directions.

First right, then left, then right, and so on. You must add ramps on
either side of the bit to get the balls to a path that leads to the
bottom.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

30
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 8: Depolarization

Objective: Make the pattern blue, red, blue, red, blue, red...

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x 14
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

31
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 8 Solution

Explanation: A bit is used to alternate the color of the balls released.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

32
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 9

Objective: Make the pattern blue, blue, red, blue, blue, red...

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x 13
x 10 x 10

PRESS
TO
START

33
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 9-A Solution

Explanation: The bit only lets every other blue ball reach the right
lever, but every red ball ends at the left lever.

x 10 x 10

PRESS
TO
START

34
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 9: Dimers

Objective: Make the pattern blue, blue, red, blue, blue, red...

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x 18
x 10 x 10

PRESS
TO
START

35
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 9 Solution

Explanation: Just like the last puzzle, the bit makes every other blue
ball release a red ball, but every red ball releases a blue ball.

Do you see how the bit splits the path of the blue balls to go in two
directions? This is very important in the coming puzzles!

x 10 x 10

PRESS
TO
START

36
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 10: Double Bond

Objective: Make the pattern blue, blue, red, red, blue, blue, red, red…

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x 22
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

37
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 10 Solution

Explanation: This time, there are bits in the path of both the red and
blue balls. The bits cause only every other ball to cross to the other
side of the board.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

38
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 11

Objective: Flip bits A and B to the right.

Starting setup Available parts

x 15
x2 x0

A B

PRESS
TO
START

39
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 11-A Solution

Explanation: The top bit is used to distribute the blue balls between
two paths - one leads to the left bit and the other leads to the right
bit.

x2 x0

A B

PRESS
TO
START

40
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 11: Selectivity

Objective: Flip bits 2 and 5 to the right.

Starting setup Available parts

x 15
x2 x0

1 2 3 4 5

PRESS
TO
START

41
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 11 Solution

Explanation: The top bit splits the path of the blue balls. One path
leads to bit 2 and the other path leads to bit 5.

x2 x0

1 2 3 4 5

PRESS
TO
START

42
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 12: Duality - Part 1

Objective: Intercept a blue ball.

Starting setup Available parts

x3
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

43
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 12 Solution

Explanation: The ramps must be used to complete the path of a

single ball to the interceptor.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

44
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 13: Duality - Part 2

Objective: Intercept a red ball.

Starting setup Available parts

x 12
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

45
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 13 Solution

Explanation: Even though you start by releasing a blue ball, you’ve

got to get a red ball in the interceptor. How do you do that?

Here’s how: Lead the first blue ball to the right lever, releasing a red
ball. Then lead the red ball to the interceptor with ramps.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

46
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 14: Duality - Part 3

Objective: If the machine starts with bit A pointing to the left, inter-
cept a blue ball. Otherwise, intercept a red ball.

Examples:

If then If then
A A

Starting setup Available parts

x 20
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

47
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 14 Solution

Explanation: Let’s think about each of the two starting conditions

separately.

A starts left: A starts right:

Like puzzle 12, the Like puzzle 13, the
first blue ball simply first blue ball falls
falls into the onto the lever on the
A A

interceptor. right side of the

board, releasing a
red ball that lands in
the interceptor.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

48
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 15

Objective: Let only one blue ball reach the end. Intercept the 2nd ball.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x 12
x8 x8

x1

PRESS
TO
START

49
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 15-A Solution

Explanation: Use the bit to make the first ball take a path that leads
to the bottom and the second ball take a path to the interceptor.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

50
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 15

Objective: If bit A starts to the left, intercept a red ball. If bit A starts
to the right, intercept a blue ball.

Examples:

If then If then
A A

Starting setup Available parts

x 11
x8 x8

A
PRESS
TO
START

51
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 15-B Solution

Explanation: This one is tricky! Bit A is all the way at the bottom of
the board. How can you set the color of the ball that goes in an
interceptor based on a bit that is below the interceptor?

You need to send information up the board! There are two ways to do
that. The first way (the way we do it here) is to use the right and left
levers. The color of the second ball released from the top will tell you
the direction the bit at the bottom was pointing.

The second way to send information up the board is with gears and
gear bits. We’ll get to that later. :)

x8 x8

A
PRESS
TO
START

52
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 15: Inversion

Objective: If bit A starts to the left, intercept a blue ball. If bit A starts
to the right, intercept a red ball.

Examples:

=> =>
A A

Starting setup Available parts

x 11
x8 x8

x2

PRESS
TO
START

53
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 15 Solution

Explanation: Like the previous puzzle, the bit at the bottom of the
board decides the color of the ball that must go in the interceptor. But
for this puzzle, the colors are reversed! Here we do that with a
carefully placed crossover.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

54
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 16

Objective: Catch the 1st blue ball in the interceptor.

Starting setup Available parts

x1
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

55
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 16-A Solution

Explanation: Since both bits start pointed to the right, you only need
to add a single ramp to finish the path to the interceptor.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

56
 Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 16

Objective: Let only 1 blue ball reach the bottom and catch the 2nd ball
in the interceptor.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x3
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

57
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 16-B Solution

Explanation: The top bit sends the first ball to the right, which leads
to the left lever. Then, when the second ball is released, both bits
point right, just like in the previous challenge. The second ball travels
to the interceptor.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

58
Practice Puzzle C for Challenge 16
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle C for Challenge 16

Objective: Let only 2 blue balls reach the bottom and catch the 3rd
ball in the interceptor.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x3
x8 x8

x1

PRESS
TO
START

59
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 16-C Solution

Explanation: Think about the direction the bits are pointing when
each ball is released:

1st ball 2nd ball 3rd ball

Notice that the top bit flips with every ball, but the bottom bit only
flips when the top bit points left.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

60
Challenge 16
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 16: Termination

Objective: Let only 3 blue balls reach the bottom and catch the 4th
ball in the interceptor.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x 10
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

61
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 16 Solution

Explanation: Like the previous puzzle, think about the direction the
bits point when each ball is released:

1st ball 2nd ball 3rd ball 4th ball

The way these bits count out balls is important! You’ll use it many
times in the coming puzzles.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

62
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 17
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 17

Objective: Let only 3 red balls reach the bottom and catch the 4th
ball in the interceptor.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x 10
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

63
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 17-A Solution

Explanation: This puzzle demonstrates how you can flip the solution
to the previous puzzle around and get the same thing.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

64
Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 17
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 17

Objective: Make the pattern blue, red, red, red.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x 16
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

65
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 17-B Solution

Explanation: Here you can kick off the computer by releasing a blue
ball that travels to the right lever and releases a red ball. The red ball
starts the two bit counter (just like the previous puzzle) that stops
after 4 red balls are released.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

66
Challenge 17
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 17: Fixed Ratio

Objective: Make the pattern blue, blue, blue, red, red, red.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x
x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

67
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 17 Solution

Explanation: Now we have two 2-bit counters - one on the left and
one on the right. Notice the starting positions of the bits! To get three
blues and three reds in the output, we have to count out 3 blue balls,
and 4 red balls (the 4th ball goes into the interceptor!).

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

68
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 18
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 18

Objective: If both bits start pointed to the right, put a ball in intercep-
tor T. Otherwise put a ball in interceptor F.

Examples:

A A A A
=> OR OR =>
T F T F
B B B B

Starting setup Available parts

x3
x8 x8

T
F

PRESS
TO
START

69
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 18-A Solution

Explanation: When both bits point right, it’s a straight shot to

interceptor T. Your job is to add ramps to get the ball to interceptor F
when either one of the bits start pointed left.

x8 x8

T
F

PRESS
TO
START

70
Challenge 18
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 18: Entanglement

Objective: If the top bit AND the bottom bit start pointed to the right,
put a ball in interceptor T. Otherwise put a ball in interceptor F.

Examples:

A A A A
=> OR OR =>
T F T F
B B B B

Starting setup Available parts

x7
x8 x8

T F

PRESS
TO
START

71
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 18 Solution

Explanation: This puzzle is the same as the last puzzle, except that
the path the ball must take in each case is a little different.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

72
Challenge 19
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 19: Entanglement

Objective: If the top bit AND the bottom bit start pointed to the right,
intercept a blue ball. Otherwise, intercept a red ball.

Examples:

A A A A
=> => => =>
B B B B

Starting setup Available parts

x
x8 x8

x2

PRESS
TO
START

73
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 19 Solution

Explanation: This time there is only one interceptor. Instead of send-

ing the ball to interceptor F if the bits aren’t both pointed right, you
must direct the ball to the right lever. Then direct the red ball that’s
released to the interceptor.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

74
Challenge 20
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 20: Symbiosis

Objective: If the top bit OR the bottom bit start pointed to the right,
intercept a blue ball. Otherwise, intercept a red ball.

Examples:

A A A A
=> => => =>
B B B B

Starting setup Available parts

x
x8 x8

x2

PRESS
TO
START

75
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 20 Solution

Explanation: It’s easiest to consider the first condition - when both

bits are pointed left. Make that path go directly to the red lever and
make a path for the red ball to go directly to the interceptor. Then
make every other possible path for that first blue ball lead to the
interceptor.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

76
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 21
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 21

Objective: Each register below shows a number. Can you figure out
what number is shown by each one?

Examples:
1 1 1

2 =
0 2 =
1 2 =
5
4 4 4

A A A

1 1 1

2 = 2 = 2 =

4 4 4

A A A

1 1 1

2 2 2

= = =
4 4 4

8 8 8

A A A

77
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 21-A Solution

Explanation: Remember - to figure out the number shown, simply

add the number next to each bit that is pointed right.

A. How many numbers can be represented by a 3-bit register?

B. How many numbers can be represented by a 4-bit register?

C. What is the smallest number that can be represented on a 4-bit

register?

D. What is the largest number that can be represented on a 4-bit

register? A. 8 B. 16 C. 0 D. 15

1 1 1

2 =
2 2 =
6 2 =
7
4 4 4

A A A

1 1 1

2 2 2

=
9 =
12 =
15
4 4 4

8 8 8

A A A

78
Challenge 21
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 21: Quantum Number

Objective: Use register A to count the number of blue balls. (Use 15 or

less balls.)

Examples:

x5 => A =5 x 14 => A = 14

x7 => A =7 x 11 => A = 11

Starting setup Available parts

x5
x* x0
1

PRESS
TO
START

79
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 21 Solution

Explanation: This seems a lot more complicated than it really is!

The top bit flips with every ball.

The 2nd bit flips every 2nd ball (whenever the top bit flips to the left).
The 3rd bit flips every 4th ball (whenever the 2nd bit flips to the left).
The 4th bit flips every 8th ball (whenever the 3rd bit flips to the left).

That’s it! Remember how this works - it’ll be in a lot of the puzzles to
come.

x* x0
1

PRESS
TO
START

80
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 22
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 22

Objective: Draw bits to solve the following problems.

Examples:

1 1

7-4= 2
6-2= 2

4 4

A A

1 1 1

2 2 2

10 - 5 = 4
12 - 4
= 4

8 8 8

A A A

1 1 1

2 2 2

4
- 4
= 4

8 8 8

A A A

81
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 22-A Solution

Explanation: You’re getting the hang of it now!

Now see if you can answer the question: Why do computers use
binary numbers instead of regular, base 10 numbers?

Because you can represent them with simple switches.

1 1 1

2 2 2

10 - 5 = 4
12 - 4
= 4

8 8 8

A A A

1 1 1

2 2 2

4
- 4
= 4

8 8 8

A A A

82
Challenge 22
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 22: Depletion

Objective: Register A starts at 15. Subtract the number of blue balls

from the register. (Use 15 or less balls.)

Examples:

x1 => A = 14 x4 => A = 11

x 10 => A =5 x 15 => A =0

Starting setup Available parts

x4
x* x0
1

PRESS
TO
START

83
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 22 Solution

Explanation: You can make a register count down instead of up by

flipping the ramps around to the other side of the register!

x* x0
1

PRESS
TO
START

84
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 23
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 23

Objective: Let no blue balls reach the end. (Intercept the 1st ball.)

Starting setup Available parts

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

85
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 23-A Solution

Explanation: Think of the bits as a register. The register is set up to

count down. To capture the 1st ball that falls, you must set the
register to a value of 0 before starting the computer.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

86
Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 23
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 23

Objective: Let exactly one blue ball reach the end. (Intercept the 2nd
ball.)

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

87
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 23-B Solution

Explanation: This time, set the register to a value of 1 before starting

the computer. It will let one ball through and capture the next ball.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

88
Practice Puzzle C for Challenge 23
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle C for Challenge 23

Objective: Let exactly two blue balls reach the end. (Intercept the 3rd
ball.)

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

89
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 23-C Solution

Explanation: Set the countdown register to a value of 2 before

starting the computer. It will let two balls through and the third ball
will be captured in the interceptor.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

90
Challenge 23
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 23: Tetrad

Objective: Let exactly 4 blue balls reach the end. (Intercept the 5th.)

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

91
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 23 Solution

Explanation: Again, think of the bits as a register. The register is set

up to count down. Set the starting value of the register to 4. When
you start the computer, it will allow 4 balls to pass through and
capture the 5th ball in the interceptor.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

92
Challenge 24
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 24: Ennead

Objective: Let exactly 9 blue balls reach the end. (Intercept the 10th.)

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x 14
x 12 x 12

x1

PRESS
TO
START

93
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 24 Solution

Explanation: Think of the four bits as a register. The ramps are set up
to make it count down. Set the starting value of the register to 9.
When you start the computer, it will allow 9 balls to pass through and
intercept the 10th.

x 12 x 12

PRESS
TO
START

94
Challenge 25
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 25: Regular Expression

Objective: Generate the required pattern.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x
x8 x8

x5

x1

PRESS
TO
START

95
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 25 Solution

Explanation: Make two countdown registers - one on the left side

and one on the right.

To let out 6 blue balls, start the left register with a value of 5 (the 6th
ball will be used to trigger the right lever).

To let out 3 red balls, start the right register with a value of 3. It will
allow three red balls to reach the bottom and intercept the 4th ball.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

96
Challenge 26
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 26: Nucleus

Objective: Generate the required pattern.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x
x 10 x 10

x2

x2

PRESS
TO
START

97
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 26 Solution

Explanation: The 2-bit countdown register on the left releases four

blue balls, the last of which triggers the right lever, releasing a red
ball. That red ball goes back over to the left side, triggering the
release of four more blue balls, the last of which triggers the release
of a second red ball. That second red ball is caught by the interceptor.

x 10 x 10

PRESS
TO
START

98
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 27
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 27

Objective: Reverse the direction of each of the two starting bits,

regardless of the direction they point to start.

Starting setup Available parts

x 16
x2 x0

x1

PRESS
TO
START

99
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 27-A Solution

Explanation: The key is to split the path of the blue balls so that one
flips the left bit and the next flips the right bit.

x2 x0

PRESS
TO
START

100
Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 27
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle B for Challenge 27

Objective: Reverse the direction of each of the three starting bits,

regardless of the direction they point to start.

Starting setup Available parts

x
x2 x1

x1

PRESS
TO
START

101
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 27-B Solution

Explanation: We have one bit to split the path of the blue balls. That
allows us to flip two of the bits, but how can we flip the third bit?

Use the second blue ball to trigger the release of a red ball that flips
that third bit.

x2 x1

PRESS
TO
START

102
Challenge 27
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 27: Reflection

Objective: Reverse the direction of each of the 9 starting bits, regard-

less of the direction they point to start.

Starting setup Available parts

x
x8 x8

x1

x1

PRESS
TO
START
x1

103
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 27 Solution

Explanation: Like the last puzzle, use one bit to split the path of the
blue balls. That takes care of the first two columns of bits. The final
bit on the right can then be flipped with a red ball, triggered by the
second blue ball.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

104
Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 28
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Puzzle A for Challenge 28

Objective: Release two blue balls and then all of the red balls.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x 13
x8 x8

x1

PRESS
TO
START

105
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Practice Challenge 28-A Solution

Explanation: Two gear bits connected together make a permanent
latch. After being flipped once, they can’t be flipped back again.

The first blue ball flips the latch. The second blue ball and all the rest
of the red balls are sent to the red lever by the flipped latch.
Ball 1: Ball 2: Ball 3: Ball 4: Ball 5:

Actually, there is a way to flip the latch back to the original position.
Can you figure out how? Send a ball onto the lower bit only.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

106
Challenge 28
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 28: Latch

Objective: Release only the blue balls.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x1
x8 x8

x1

x1

PRESS
TO
START

107
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 28 Solution

Explanation: Use a latch to send all balls to the ramps on the left
side.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

108
Challenge 29
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 29: One-Shot Switch

Objective: Release a blue ball, a red ball, and then the rest of the blue
balls.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x
x8 x8

x1

x1

x1

PRESS
TO
START

109
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 29 Solution

Explanation: Use the first blue ball to flip the latch and trigger a red
ball. The red ball triggers another blue ball that, from then on, is
forced to trigger more blue balls by the (now flipped) latch.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

110
Bonus Puzzle A for Challenge 29
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Bonus Puzzle A for Challenge 29

Objective: Release three blue balls and then the rest of the red balls.

Required output:

Starting setup Available parts

x
x8 x8

x2

x2

x1

PRESS
TO
START

111
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Bonus Challenge 29-A Solution

Explanation: This one’s tricky! The first blue ball triggers the first
latch and releases another blue ball. The second blue ball triggers the
second latch and releases another blue ball. The third ball, and all
balls from then on, trigger red balls to be released.

x8 x8

PRESS
TO
START

112
Challenge 30
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 30: Overflow

Objective: Count the blue balls in register A. If there are more than 7,
gear bit OV must flip right (and stay right) to indicate the overflow.

Examples:

x7 => x8 => x 15 =>

OV OV OV

Starting setup Available parts

x 14
x* x0
1

A
OV
x1

x1

PRESS
TO
START

113
Turing Tumble Practice Guide 1.0

Challenge 30 Solution

Explanation: The latch flips when the count up register increments

past 7. Once flipped, it remains flipped no matter how many balls run
through the register.

x* x0
1

A
OV

PRESS
TO
START

114