If you can solve this.....

[DemonArchangel]

http://www.borrett.id.au/computing/petals-j.htm

If you solve the puzzle
no giving the answers out.
I won't give the answers
And also, try not to look on google.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Well I worked on it for half an hour before I cracked and looked up the answer. At least I have the satisfaction of knowing I was on the wrong track although some of my reasoning was correct.

[JAG]

Ye - I admit I got HUGELY frustrated when all my complex theories and working out got nowhere, so I looked for the answer. And on one of the sites it has background to it i'll quote -

I was introduced to "Petals Around the Rose" by Dr. Richard Duke at the University of Michigan . Dr. Duke used to begin each of his gaming/simulation courses with this exercise. While some students would solve the problem right away, others would struggle all semester. It had taken Dr. Duke well over a year himself, and he would always explain that the smarter you were, the longer it took to figure it out.

The game is quite simple. Only a basic understanding of math is required and an open and creative mind. The game can be used as an example of how different people look at the world differently, and how these different ways of looking can yield different answers. In "Petals Around the Rose" there is always one correct answer. The problem is how we define the problem.

Very true I think.

I got so pissed off, as I am normally OK at these sort of things, then it smacks you in the face, GAH!

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Yeah, like einstien not being able to solve a problem that a 5 year old could solve easily. I was making it much too complex, even though I realized that it was probably something simple and adjusted my methods accordingly.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Well I guess im really stupid as it took me four rolls before I got it right. Just count the pedals is all I can say. Hope I didnt give it away.

[discovery1]

I remeber this. Rather simple really. Petals round the rosy, pockets full of posies ashes ashes we all fall down.

[Del Arroyo]

Yeah, you guys gave it away. I'm glad, though-- I would've been banging my head against that thing for days.

At least I didn't look up the answer... oh well...

[KukriKhan]

Interesting side story on that site, describing how then 20-years old Bill Gates "solved" the problem: he didn't - only used pure memorization. Speaks volumes about how Microsoft approaches problems.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

hmm I'm pretty sure the story said he figured it out eventually without just memorization.

[son of spam]

I figured out the algorithm, but then had to look on the web to see how the name related at all...Quite impressed with how people figured out what the name had to do with it....it was such a dead end for me

[LittleGrizzly]

i couldn't even begin to think of theories then the answer just came to me

i just questioned what the name had to do with it

[Skomatth]

I still can't get it

[Skomatth]

LOL just after that post I played the game on a different site and figured it out. The dice were bigger that elucidated it for some reason....

Now that I know the answer its kind of disappointing.

[Medieval Assassin]

I feel so stupid, its so easy.

[Skomatth]

I gave this puzzle to my bro and he was struggling for about an hour. Then I told him the alternate name I found when confirming my solution. He then got it in about a second. So the name is important... in confusing you :)

[LittleGrizzly]

he would always explain that the smarter you were, the longer it took to figure it out.

damn just read this from jag's post, im incredibly stupid!

[dessa14]

worked it out in 10 minutes.
but then again my brain is different to all of yours.
thanks,
dessa

[Snowhobbit]

Gah! I give up, I've tried for about two hours!
Could anyone PM me the alternative name?