Mr Honner

The Ultimate Intelligence Test

I’m not sure I believe this is the ultimate intelligence test, but this series of mental challenges is [mostly] enjoyable.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19592-take-the-ultimate-intelligence-test/

The “test”, which really seems more like a sophisticated data collection tool for someone doing research in psychology or cognitive science, consists of twelve ‘games’ that test various brain functions, like memory, planning, categorizing, and the like. They are mostly fun, but be warned: it can be a fairly taxing process.

It takes around 30 minutes to complete all the tests, and when you are finished (and complete a short survey), your results, and your relative rankings among all test-takers, are displayed for every activity. In addition, the authors explain what they think each exercise is really testing.

It’s definitely a fun way to waste half-an-hour. Just make sure you are well-rested!

By patrick honner, 15 yearsJanuary 20, 2011 ago

Challenge

Today in Guesstimation

Today’s exercise in quantitative reasoning: how much money do you think is contained in this piggy bank?

Here’s a view from the side. I think this is the pig’s best angle.

To enter your guess, choose the third option below and enter your guess in the blank. Results will be shared next week!

Mechanical Calculator

This videos demonstrates the absolutely amazing Curta Mechanical Calculator.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYsOi6L_Pw4

Invented in the 1940s, this is an entirely mechanical multiplication device. To operate it, you set the sliders on the side to the first number, and then turn the crank on top an appropriate number of times to multiply by the second number. Because of it’s obvious resemblance, this is affectionately known as the pepper-grinder calculator.

In the video, the narrator takes his Curta apart and explains a bit of the inner-workings of the device.

If they don’t have one already, the Calculator Museum should definitely make acquiring a Curta a top priority!

Thanks to Ivan for showing me this!

By patrick honner, 15 yearsJanuary 18, 2011 ago

Game Theory Technology

Google Goggles Does Sudoku

Another installment from the amazing file: an iPhone app that looks at and then solves Sudoku.

http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-beat-sudoku-puzzles-using-google-goggles/

Image recognition software aside, the interesting mathematical idea here is how one would create a computer program that can solve an arbitrary Sudoku puzzle. It doesn’t seem like a particularly challenging task, but finding an efficient method may be a challenging problem. After all, I imagine some strategies are better than others.

Experienced Sudoku solvers probably have a general algorithm they follow, but I imagine that intuition (guessing?) plays a role at some point. Can you program that in somehow?

By patrick honner, 15 yearsJanuary 17, 2011 ago

Appreciation Photography