Example Puzzle
This is an example puzzle, with a solution so that you can see some techniques that might be expected of the puzzler in getting to the answer. This example has more steps than a typical puzzle, to provide more examples of possible steps. (A typical puzzle has around 2 steps.) You can try solving this puzzle yourself, if you prefer.
See the first step...
First, recognize that the images are all
flags of US states. The flags are from:
See the next step...
We're looking for a short word or phrase. Obviously, this table of states encodes what we're looking for somehow.
Looking at a list or table of states, the first letters of the states don't spell anything meaningful. So we're going to need to get letters out in another way.
You might try ordering the states alphabetically, and then putting in whatever number they are in that order. Unfortunately, if you do that, some of the states' values are higher than 26, so unless there's another step, it'll be difficult to get a letter again. You could try doing everything (mod 26). Go ahead and try if you'd like, you'll find a bunch of garbage.
A natural way to get numbers from states is to order them by their admission into the United States. So, let's replace the states with their numbers:
See the next step...
Okay. Now what? Notice that the number used range from 1 to 26. So, let's try indexing into the alphabet. Replace all of the numbers with letters to reveal:
See the answer...
The grid then reads
The blank brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Or,
The _______ brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Recognizing this famous
pangram, we find the answer to be
QUICK.
Notice, now, that "A Tour", the puzzle's title, does not simply refer to the fact that you're learning about these puzzles--it refers to both the geographical aspect of the puzzle and the whole-alphabet aspect of the puzzle. This should confirm that you've executed the correct steps and have arrived at the answer. Sometimes the puzzle's title is a confirmation that you're on the right track, sometimes they're a hint for how to proceed, sometimes they have nothing to do with the puzzle at all.
