Puzzle Theory

Elizabeth J. Pyattejp10@psu.edu

Brownbag Luncheon Series

What’s a puzzle?

Defining puzzleoA puzzle is funo It has a right answer (or maybe 2)

–Scott Kim (http://www.scottkim.com) Also

oCan be played alone or collaborativelyoCan be timed or untimed

Puzzles vs Games

Games PuzzlesMultiple SolutionsOpponents (person, computer)Formal Rules

Puzzles can be incorporated into games (particularly “quests”)Games should be fun

Limited solutionsSolo play commonFormal Rules common, but not required

Puzzles should be fun

Common Puzzle Types

Word Puzzles Math Puzzles (some solitaire here) Logic Puzzles (many card solitaire here) Trivia Puzzles Visual Puzzles (e.g. jigsaw) 3D & Mechanical Puzzles “Lateral Thinking” (think outside the

box)

Puzzles in Real Life

Assembling a prehistoric pot Find the shortest trucking route

between multiple destinations Deciphering an ancient text Probability that it will snow today Optimal furniture placement in an office How big a fan does my dorm room need Calculate no. PSU workers by county

Problem Sets vs Puzzles

Limited Answers, but NOT fun

Adding Fun? Graphics

Graphics?o x+y+z = xyz = 6

+ + =

x x = 6

Chem Blaster Evil Genius

Russian Puzzle (Map of the США)

What is the Russian char for /p/ - Л П Ш

Real World Context

Write numbers 0-10 in terms of 2,0,1,1 (2011)e.g. 0 = 2+0-1-1 o http://mathforum.org/yeargames/

Eng Quest: Learn new formulas to build better dams

Can you (tastefully) add o Flash Floods (Fluid Mechanics)oDead Fish? Stranded Snakes? (Ecology)o “You’re Fired!” (Business)

Adding Humor

Some Perils of Educational Gameso /studɛnts so bɔrd, ðe ple saləter/o /rəǰɛktəd bay æpləl ay-tunz stɔr/o /bɔs kæčəz yu pleyɪŋ gem ɪn mitɪŋz/o /bɔs wont giv yu wi rəmot bæk/

Grammar “Nitemare”

Control Difficulty Level

Fun = Not too easyoAlthough everyone enjoys easy

homework Fun = Not too hard

o Fun for instructor may be too hard for students

Fun with “Cheating”?

In entertainment puzzles, there is no penalty for:oA do-overo Peeking in the answer keyoGetting help from a friend

Can we leverage this?oMore practice?oHomework less difficult than practiceoDo overs with partial credit?

Add a Narrative

Construct Narrative with a series of puzzles

Demo Time! or Emergency Demo

The “Tung Masters”

Linguistics students study languages on an extraterrestrial planet

Must pass through language academy (the Tung Master Institute)

Field Work Missionso Explain English grammar to local

populationo Learn new linguistic forms of local

populationoDetermine related languages

Motivation Paradox

Can accounting ever be fun?

o If you said no, what will the students say?

Some Online Puzzles

http://www.jigzone.com http://www.physicsgames.net/ http://www.coolmath-games.com/1-st

rategy-games-01.html http://www.scottkim.com/education/t

enways.html

Emergency Demo

Semi-Animated Dialogue

Crime Scene

Side Puzzle

Some Assembly Required