US1270947A - Mathematical puzzle. - Google Patents

Description

A. HERMANN.

MATHEMATICAL PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.13, 1917.

1L @TQWK, Patented July 2, 1918.

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aa'roei a i To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, ARNOLD HERMANmresiding at Sharpsburg, in the county of Alleghenyand State of Pennsylvania, acitizen of Switzerland, have invented or discovered certain new and useful" Improvements in Mathematical Puzzles, of which improvement the following is a" specification. c

The object of my invention is to provide a puzzle whereby one of a plurality of symbolssecretly selected by one person maybe determinedby another person.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings forming part of my specification, I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention. Figure 1 is a face view of a card on which the puzzle is represented, and Fig. 2 a face view of an index card to accompany the puzzle.

All!) The puzzle which I provide comprises a plurality of groups of symbols, each symbol and each group of symbols having an assigned numerical value, the sum of the numerical values of the groups in which a given symbol occurs being equal to the numerical value of such given symbol.

While any desired symbols may be used, such as pictures of objects, persons or animals, the symbols preferably used are the letters of the alphabet, each of which is conveniently assigned the numerical value corresponding to its position in the alphabet. These letters are conveniently arranged in five groups which are assigned respectively, the numerical values of 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16. It will be found that the numerical value of these groups will when taken separately or variously added to each other, indicate any number from 1 to 26, there being twenty-six letters in the alphabet. For example, in arranging the letters in the several groups the letters A, B and D, the first, second and fourth letters of the alphabet ap pear only in the first, second and third groups whose assigned numerical values are, respectively 1, 2, and 4:, while other remaining letters appear in two or more groups whose sum of assigned values equals the as signed value of the letter. Thus the let ter M, bein the thirteenth letter of the alphabet, and ence whose numerical value 13, appears in the first, third and fourth groups, whose assigned numerical values are 1, 4 and 8, the sum of which is 13. From this single example, the placin of the other letters in groups will he readi y understood.

specification of Letters JPatent. V

Patented Anne, lei.

Application filed August 13, 1917. Serial No. 185,903.

"It will be manifest that thezgroup's can be arranged in any desired way, either in geometric figures or otherwise. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention the five groups are arranged in five sectors of the circle, each group being designated as a zone. The letters and zone numbers maybe variously indicated on the card, althoughit is preferred to print each letter upon a disk or button 1, slidable within and removable I from slots 2 formed in the card. Also, the

zone numbers may besimilarly mounted upon the card.

Fig. 2 shows an index card to accompany the puzzle, on which card the letters of the alphabet are arranged in one line in their natural order of sequence, and the number of each letters position in the alpha bet indicated below such letter. In the same manner on the index card the numerical value 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 of the several zones 1, 2, 3, 4: and 5 respectively, are indicated.

In using the puzzle an initiated person, that is to say, one understanding the puzzle, and who has the index card of Fig. 2 or has memorized its information, asks an uninitiated person to select one of the letters of the alphabet and to indicate by zone numbers each of the several zones in which such selected letter appears. If the letter J be chosen, the uninitiated will say that it appears in zones 2 and 4. And from the index card of Fig. 2, or from the memory of its contents, the initiated will find that zone 2 has assigned a numerical value of 2 and zone 4 the numerical value 8, the sum of which is 10, and he will then know that the selected letter is J, the 10th letter of the alphabet. From this simple use of the puzzle, it will be readily seen that any desired symbols may, as already stated, he used. The advantage of using letters, however, appears from the fact that words may be built, the uninitiated indicating the several zones in which appears each letter of the word selected.

According to the provision of the patent statutes, I have described the principle and operation of my invention, together with one embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the I claim as my invention: 1. In a puzzle, a plurality of groups of symbols, each symbol having an assigned numerical value, and each group of symbols having an assigned numerical value, the sum of the numerical values of all groups in which a given symbol is found being the numerical value of such symbol.

2. In a puzzle, a geometric figure divided into a plurality of :zones, each zone having an assigned numerical value, and a plurality of symbols in each zone, each symbol having an assigned numerical value, the sum of the numerical values of all zones in which a given symbol is found being the numerical value of such symbol. V

3.-In a Word building puzzle, a plurality of groups of lettersof the alphabet each letter having an assigned numerical value, and

Copies of this patent may be obtained for each group of letters having an assigned numerical value, the sum of the numerical values of all groups in which a given letter is found being the numerical value of such letter.

4L In a Word building puzzle, five groups of letters of the alphabet, each letter being assigned the numerical value of its position 1n the alphabet, the groups being assigned numerlcal values of one, two, four, 01 ght and sin teen, and each letter appearing in groups I five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. 0.

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