Math Is Fun Forum

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Where Are The Cows?

This maze is claimed to be one of the hardest in existence.

Two counters are placed in a "flowchart" structure, and each square carries instructions, or a yes-or-no question that influences the direction a counter can move in.
The twist is that most of these questions are based on the position of the other counter, eg. 'Is the other marker on a box with red or green text?'
Due to this, the state of the maze is always changing and you might have to seemingly move in circles in order to progress.
There are a few special boxes in there that mix things up even more, but you can discover those.

I'm nowhere near solving this yet, so

Have Fun!

(The creator is Robert Abbott, who made this type of 'logic maze' famous. Searching him will probably get you some other multi-state mazes like this one.)

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

justlookingforthemoment

Moderator

Registered: 2005-05-26

Posts: 2,161

Re: Where Are The Cows?

Oh no, I'm gonna be at this all day now.

An online version adapted from the same maze:
http://scullucs.com/wac/cows.html

quittyqat

Member

Registered: 2009-04-08

Posts: 1,215

Re: Where Are The Cows?

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quittyqat

Member

Registered: 2009-04-08

Posts: 1,215

Re: Where Are The Cows?

You might like this. Math Games;have fun!

Last edited by quittyqat (2009-04-08 14:43:50)

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I'll be here at least once every decade.

quittyqat

Member

Registered: 2009-04-08

Posts: 1,215

Re: Where Are The Cows?

More Math Games

It's impossible! To get to the goal,you have to choose "yes" to answer "Is the other marker in a box whose text refers to cows?".
There is NO such box!

Last edited by quittyqat (2009-05-12 08:59:35)

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I'll be here at least once every decade.

Avon

Member

Registered: 2007-06-28

Posts: 80

Re: Where Are The Cows?

It's impossible! To get to the goal,you have to choose "yes" to answer "Is the other marker in a box whose text refers to cows?".
There is NO such box!

I haven't solved this puzzle myself but I can see too possibilities.
1. If the other marker is also in box 50 then it is in a box whose text refers to cows.
2. If the rule change from box 60 is in effect then you always leave by the "yes" path.

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: Where Are The Cows?

3. If the other marker is in box 61 then you get to move both markers along their "yes" paths.

(I haven't solved it either, but it's another possibility)

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

quittyqat

Member

Registered: 2009-04-08

Posts: 1,215

Re: Where Are The Cows?

1-2-15-40-60-25
7-26-55
25-50-goal!

I wish that worked.:(

Last edited by quittyqat (2009-05-14 08:52:04)

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I'll be here at least once every decade.

secujski

Novice

Registered: 2023-10-21

Posts: 1

Re: Where Are The Cows?

Hellish, it took me a full week! This solution takes 37 moves. (A hint: If you reach 01/01 (both boxes), you're on a good track.)

If Mr Abbott made this maze without a computer, he's an absolute genius!