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        riddles >> what happened >> mail, locks and keys puzzle
        
(Message started by: alexb on Oct 30^th, 2007, 7:14am)

Title: mail, locks and keys puzzle
Post by alexb on Oct 30^th, 2007, 7:14am

May any one know a (Russian) puzzle that deals with one person having to send valuables to another with a third (vile) person being on lookout to steal the goods. The first person is in possession of boxes, locks and keys while the second has a valid mail address.

I found one relevant discussion at

http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?t=517

The question has been posted at

http://mathforum.org/kb/thread.jspa?threadID=1646767&tstart=105

I got an inquiry by email from a friend.

Thank you
Alex Bogomolny
http://www.cut-the-knot.org

Title: Re: mail, locks and keys puzzle
Post by towr on Oct 30^th, 2007, 8:06am

I'm not quite sure what you're asking here..

Are you trying to find the particular wording to a puzzle you can't quite remember?
If so, the information you give is very little to go on. There are hundreds of puzzles involving sending valuables using boxes, padlocks and keys. And they typically all involve Alice, Bob and Eve.

Title: Re: mail, locks and keys puzzle
Post by alexb on Oct 30^th, 2007, 8:17am

Yes, I am asking for possible wording of a puzzle.

I, too, have very little information. And whatever little I have is contained in the two links in my post. Have you followed them?

No doubt, a puzzle admits numerous variations. At one of the links mentioned above it is said that the puzzle has some Russian roots. So it is probably about Ivan, Maria and Moshe, if you excuse a bad joke.

For my present purpose, one sensible variant with a solution would suffice.

Thank you,

Title: Re: mail, locks and keys puzzle
Post by Aurora on Oct 30^th, 2007, 9:28am

Do you mean the one where one person has to send something in the post in a locked box to avoid someone else opening it on the way, but unless you send the key, the other person does not have the means to open it? ???

Title: Re: mail, locks and keys puzzle
Post by alexb on Oct 30^th, 2007, 9:40am

Yes, in all likelihood this is what the question is about.

Title: Re: mail, locks and keys puzzle
Post by Aurora on Oct 30^th, 2007, 9:55am

I googled it quickly and came up with this (http://onepuzzleaday.blogspot.com/2007/09/box-and-locks.html). It's probably not the most imaginative story, but it does give the puzzle and an acceptable solution.

Title: Re: mail, locks and keys puzzle
Post by alexb on Oct 30^th, 2007, 10:07am

Thank you.

This well may serve the purpose of the orginal inquirer. It is simple enough to offer to his students. But there is no vilain who has the power to intercept the mail.

The puzzle has Russian overtones just for that reason. The postal service thet is notoriously unreliable.