Impossible Puzzle

itsmemoitsmemo Join Date: 2003-07-17 Member: 18232Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">but im starting to think its possible</div> you might of heard this before:

3 utilities gas, electricity, and water, and there are 3 houses.

g e w




1 2 3


each gas , elec and water must go to every house (123) with a seperate line and the lines cannot overlap.

this is the hardest puzzle i've come across, many say its impossible.

Comments

  • DubbilexDubbilex Chump Join Date: 2002-11-24 Member: 9799Members
    It is indeed statistically impossible unless one runs the lines "under" were the houses would be.
  • antifreezeantifreeze The guy with the goods&#33; Join Date: 2003-05-12 Member: 16232Members, Constellation
    Yeh, it is impossible. If you find sombody who can do it then they are a dirty dirty hax0r!! <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • AeaAea Join Date: 2003-10-09 Member: 21552Members
    edited October 2003
    Impossible, and no it's not possible, if done to maximum completeness there will always be 1 line that can't be drawn. <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • SariselSarisel .::&#39; ( O ) &#39;;:-. .-.:;&#39; ( O ) &#39;::. Join Date: 2003-07-30 Member: 18557Members, Constellation
    does the puzzle have to look exactly as you put it and, by lines, do you mean straight lines with the same slope everywhere?
  • NuketheplaceNuketheplace Join Date: 2002-09-02 Member: 1266Members
    That looks a lot like a problem my math teacher gave me it looks something like this:
    | | | |
    | | |
    ok for the sake of this problem lets say that there are lines on the top and the bottom and through the middle of the two segments. Each of those line represent a wall with a door in it. You must walk through each door only one. You can start and end any where you want.

    Anyway about your problem it looks impossible sorry.
  • CplDavisCplDavis I hunt the arctic Snonos Join Date: 2003-01-09 Member: 12097Members
    Acutaly it is impossible only if you try to do it in a 2D plane such as a piece of paper. Doing it in 3D would make it possible.

    Go here to see mathmatical proof if it being imposbile on a 2D plane.

    <a href='http://www.cut-the-knot.org/do_you_know/3Utilities.shtml' target='_blank'>http://www.cut-the-knot.org/do_you_know/3U...Utilities.shtml</a>
  • itsmemoitsmemo Join Date: 2003-07-17 Member: 18232Members, Constellation
    you can curve the lines and do whatever just cant cross them
  • AeaAea Join Date: 2003-10-09 Member: 21552Members
    Indead you are correct <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    But I don't feel like drawing up a diagram <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • R_A_CR_A_C Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16273Members
    I CAN'T DO IT! IT"S NOT POSSIBLE! IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS!
  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    Who says you can't go through another house?
  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    ... dont give the guy water?
  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    It's quite possible. Just don't consider the origins as points, and you have plenty of space. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • AeaAea Join Date: 2003-10-09 Member: 21552Members
    It is not possible in a 2d plane, Liku, you're not supposed to go though annother house, but not giving him water is always an option <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Aea+Oct 11 2003, 01:01 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Aea @ Oct 11 2003, 01:01 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It is not possible in a 2d plane, Liku, you're not supposed to go though annother house, <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's the only solution to the puzzle.
  • BogglesteinskyBogglesteinsky Join Date: 2002-12-24 Member: 11488Members
    there was another thread sometime ago somewhere in the other forums with loads of other puzzles. not sure where it went though
  • TrojanTrojan Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4611Members
    I'm sure its got an answer, just tricky. Do the houses have to be in those points? all in a row, along with the utilities? <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->


    It's not unlike the old classic; 'Make 4 triangles using 6 matchsticks'


    Quite possible, just need to 'think outside the square. (And no, you cant break the matchsticks)
  • BogglesteinskyBogglesteinsky Join Date: 2002-12-24 Member: 11488Members
    no, the puzzle is impossible if you dont cross any of the houses or pipes. If you just say "dont cross any of the pipes", it is possible by going through a house
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