The Fifteen Puzzle

[culwin]

I finally solved it!

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A

[AlderDragon]

Simple, slide along the z-axis ;)

[Jule9ssn]

Wuut. i do like 4-5 8x8 ea day on school ;D

[Lawrencestar56]

Here what I think it is Imposibleeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[sc24ssoxfann]

I did an entirely mixed fifteen puzzle in 11.36 seconds on my ipod beating my record of 12.74 :D. By the way you cant have a 13, 15, 14 on the bottom row unless the 11 and the 12 are flipped on the third row silly goose! ;)

[luigi90900]

Divide by 0!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[d4m4s74]

Start with a solved 14/15 puzzle except for 14 and 15 switched

step 1: tilt the puzzle 90 degrees clockwise

(notation D is move the piece above the hole down, R is move the piece left to the hole right, etc for L and U)

DDD LLL UUU RRR DDD LLL UUU RRR DDDLLL UU RR D LL U R D L U RRR D LLL U R D RR U LLL U RR D L U R D LL U R D U RR D RRR U LL D L U SOLVED

[MrUlug89]

throw it to the garbage that's it problem solved 

[mannydan14]

That is impossible you cannot solve that and I am not only saying that because I cant solve it but its because that will never ever happen EVER

[dahattrickboy]

cool.

[nickxv7]

i did it

[geeta172]

Whr can I find the puzzle,,

[lucascheng2000]

the world is unfair, the highest rated comment won the 2nd highest rated comment by so much due to a mere change of a sentence!

[kevstagnite]

swopping the 14 & 15 changed the " parity " of the array, - unlike sliding the pieces around, which merely scrambles them.

it's like handing someone a deck of cards, & asking them to find the 11 of clubs,

& no, - not the Jack...!!

[WishfulNation]

I solved it, here's the moves

Take out the 14, and 15 from there manufactured designations ( from 15 - 14 of course) than you put them back in as 14 and 15. I solved the magical puzzle, so where's my money?

[jongsong86]

Impossible, you cant pick up a piece...

[Somethingcrappy]

-.- thats impossible....

[bas1994]

dude clean your upper lip

[LeighzerCuber]

isn't that a parity error? If you just swap two it is impossible to solve. That is why you offered money because you knew it was impossible to do. I figured you out.

[SharkRetriver]

offer a prize to solve an impossible parity situation (if solution is by sliding only)? lolz

[xxcurnuxx]

this puzzle is impossible, how is it impossible?

Is 15 an even number?

[borbetomagus]

The book 'The 15 Puzzle' by Jerry Slocum gives a history of the puzzle, but if you're not that interested do an internet search for 'The history of the 15 puzzle' by Harry Broeders. The puzzle was invented by Noyes Chapman around 1874, there was a brief craze in 1880, but Sam Loyd claimed he invented it in the early 1870s around 1891 and continued to do so until his death. Also search out 'Notes on the 15 puzzle' by Wm. Woolsey Johnson in 1879 for more info on the solving the puzzle.

[supermonkeyballboy]

2 things:

1) I know this is impossible

2) $1000 back then is heck of a lot more than today's $1000

[BluePi1313]

I learned how to solve an 8 puzzle myself, not to brag. So that made the 15 puzzle easier.

[IPwnAllAndLeaveNone]

Unsolvable

I know how to solve a 15 puzzle, and you cannot swap pieces like that

...unless you take the pieces out and put them back in

[Everyvideo123]

unsolvable mate

[soulreaverable]

i study the structure of this puzzle i ts imposible to do that acording to the structure it can be in this position never! only if you put out the pieces

[shriyadit]

odd permutations of the puzzle are impossible to solve [Johnson 1879]

[JuicyWubby]

About 200 years have passed, if it was solvable it would have already .

[rubikgenius123]

i know im late but i solved it. it is not impossible

1.slide 14 into the air

2.slide 15 right

3. slide 14 left still in air.

4. slide 14 down into its position :)

[sunnyside4lyf]

post video otherwise ur jus a claimer

[sunnyside4lyf]

lol jus kiddin very funny

[pogobat88]

@rubikgenius123 idiot

[patrick12ify]

i do these puzzles all the time

[mooman126]

Step

2Create a working area of five tiles in the six slots consisting of the three leftmost columns and the two bottom rows. Makes sure the 9 and the 13 are two of the five tiles. Put the 13 where the 9 should go and put the 9 next to the 13. Then get the lower-left corner open. Slip the 13 into place, followed by the 9.

[mooman126]

Work vertically, beginning with the vertical column on the left. This consists of the numbers 1, 5, 9 and 13. Move the 1 into position, followed by the 5.

[mooman126]

the 7 and 8 can be placed in the correct positions. The bottom two lines will have similar problems; the 9 and 13 need to be in the right order then cycled round to their positions, and finally one is left with another 3 by 2 grid with the 10 and 14 to be placed first like the 3 and 4, then the last three rotated to get home! Of course it makes sense to think about the other numbers and where they should eventually end up, and so move them in those particular directions.

[mooman126]

this this work This is the same as a permutation of (4 10 6 *)(6 3 11 *)(11 * 4)(3 6 11 10 * 4)= (11 6 * 4). In a similar way,

[BrightSocks]

Take out the number 15 from the box, move 14 to the left so its next to the number 13 then place the number 15 to the right of number 14 and there you have it!

[duelsflame99]

u=up

d=down

l=left

r=right

1. swap the 14 and 15 to get started.

12d 11l 7d 8r 4d 3l 8u 6r 2d 8l 6u 2r 8d 6l 2u 8l 5l 1d 6l 2l 8u 5r 2d 8l 3l 4u 11u 7r 10r 2d 5l 10u 2r 9r 1d 5l 10l 2u 9r 10d 2l 11l 7u 9r 11d 7l 9u 11r 10r 1 r 13u 15l

[TheKrazykool809]

its inposible. (il probobly have a video responce) you could call me a puzzle pro. from knowlage i know you can use a 3 cycles 3 times in a pattern to do a double 2 cycle.use this 8 times in a group of two to finaly end with a 2 cycle. its inposible because you can not get the exact needed ,8, in a square(ring shape). this can be proven. the number of cubies in a square ring is 2 numbers times 2plus 4. this cant be done with a total of 9 cubies since there must be 8 and the empty space.

[VogelAnthony]

pick up the 15, slide the 14 back next to the 13, put the 15 after the 14. do i get my $1000 now? o.O

[jks11235813]

1000? that's madness...

[basher400]

madness?

THIS IS SPARTAAAAA

jkn

[jks11235813]

LOL!

[rotnakleugim]

Thats because it is impossible

[jks11235813]

touché.

[kurcalal]

i would love to watch a vid of u solving it

[snubbull123]

I think it's impossible to swap the 14-15 back to normal

I'm trying to prove that's it is really impossible

[raoneill]

its possible with quantum tunnelling. It would take a long time though.

[tofuSCHNITZEL]

I would say its impossible because: *insert amazing mathematical explanation from singingbanana here* :)

[kinsoncheung123]

You can not solve this problem because it would require a change of the invariant.

[JuicyWubby]

EH? How ue get the same answer ?

[kinsoncheung123]

What answer?

[JuicyWubby]

You got same answer as me you scroll down .

[JuicyWubby]

Step 1: Get a fifteen puzzle

Step 2:Swap positions, 14-15

Step 3: Destroy it, Problem solved .

[GrandShaz0001]

hey that was easy

[JuicyWubby]

HEHE .

[JuicyWubby]

Hey, singingbanana, can ue solve it then ? Care posting a video of it ?

[JuicyWubby]

This puzzle is not solvable because it would require a change of the invariant . It's unsolvable .

[kyle7447]

It can't be done!

[shuuni19]

1: Take the 15 out

2: Move the 14 to the left

3: Now place the 15 where 14 was in

Completed!

[kyle7447]

You should win :P

[scotland7yard]

Ethically, the prize should go to someone proving mathematically that this is impossible.

[BrokenBoone]

I don't know how you kept a straight face when offering the prize, banana. ;-)

[roysensei]

he is too fucking smart to make this bet and it being possible.

[SousukePanic]

after u switch the 14 and 15, rotate the puzzle 90 degrees clockwise and solve :D ok that shouldnt get 1000$ but it works xD

[SousukePanic]

i wanna know why this is impossible now lol

[comface]

It's obviously impossible, just like swapping two adjacent pieces on a rubiks cube makes it unsolvable.

[Pizzscn]

Well it's a thing called parity, and it can't be fixed.

[BlAiR6996]

1: Take the 15 out

2: Move the 14 to the left

3: Replace the 15 immediately right of the fourteen

Completed!

[thespaceman5]

LMFAO!!!!

[acemagic27]

of course he says u.s. dollars while our economy is colapsing

[beauorchard50]

exactly p4528. but seriously its not possible

[P4528]

i did it.

move list: pick up the 15; slide the 14 over; place the 15 where the 14 was. $1000 plz XD

[kunfussed213]

I don't care if you can or can't solve this. I just like hearing James talk :D.

[2oSRo7]

This puzzle is not solvable because it would require a change of the invariant. :D

[FlameSnake74]

It's obviously impossible, why would he risk having to give away $1000? He probably doesn't even have $1000 that he's willing to give away.

[aronpm65536]

It's impossible to do an odd number of swaps on this type of puzzle. Similar to how, on a Rubik's Cube, you cannot swap two edges, or flip a single edge. :)

[pi3dr]

you can swap 2 edges, just not flip a single edge, you might not know the algorithm's

[aronpm65536]

I know the algorithms to solve the cube, but no algorithm will swap JUST two edges. The T permutation, for example, swaps two edges, but also two corners.

[4294967296magician]

can we do it as a vid response?

[singingbanana]

Yes please.

[yullsjenkins]

something tells me that you cant do this no matter what

[DavidMMSM]

Its impossible , He is lieing about the one thousand dollors , Hes making you try it , It is impossible without lifting a tile up.

[experthowto]

He's not lying. He will give you $1000 to if you complete the puzzle, but that will never happen seeing as it is impossible.

[bluecobra95]

I've solved it. Steps:

1. Lift the 14 tile off.

2. slide the 15 into its place

3. place the 14 where the 15 was.

[uneedhelp2]

he said using slides

[bluecobra95]

Ah, my sarcasm has failed to convey itself through the internet. It's impossible, which is why he is willing to bet $1,000 against you.

[uneedhelp2]

No i know it was a joke to begin with, haha just being a deusche and pointing it out.

[dungeonmunky]

That is my new favorite spelling of douche.

[uneedhelp2]

yeah whot

[Rivers256]

I wonder if there is some kind of crazy abstract math that hasn't been discovered yet that will let this be solved. Probably not, but it's a fun thought anyway.

[tysonmouland1357]

This puzzle is not solvable because it would require a change of the invariant.

[KHORDIxPRODUCTIONS]

or its impossible

[Stythe]

this isn't possible. if any tile is physically lifted off the board at any time, it makes a solution impossible to reach. :(

[pughie08]

OMG, i think i saw you on a eden camp poster

[singingbanana]

That's was me. Where did you see that?

[pughie08]

@singingbanana Sorry for replying so late, and i saw it in my maths classroom.

[mooman126]

you move the the the 12 drown the you move the 11 to where the 12 was the you more the 14 up then you move the 15 over to where it goes or so i think i can no find my 15 puzzle at this time but if i find it i would get it in no time

[Tvanom]

is it impossible?

[lassefan]

It's just like the rubix cube. If you separate all the cubes and put them together again, only that one cube is turned upside down, you will never be able to solve it.

[Gamingnight]

Loyd's second position has even parity, while the original position has odd parity. loyd;s puzzle is impossible

[Gamingnight]

this puzzle is impossible. swaping the two numbers makes any combination of switching impossible since they are reversed so no mater how many times your slide you regroup them if you put fiften in its place you end up with others numbers out of order.

[Error081688]

I suppose there is no prize for proving it is not possible, huh?

[singingbanana]

Only self satisfaction.

[NorskNorge]

Can you confirm that my list of moves is the solution?

[singingbanana]

Maybe one of the other commenters will check this for me, I'm travelling at the moment.

[just4fun3O1]

i know it! although it involves cheating and penguins :|

[NorskNorge]

Here is your list of moves. D, U, R, and L - meaning you push the piece in that direction. (Down, Up, Right and Left.)

DRDLDRURDLURRDLLURDLLUURRDLURR­DLLURDLLURDLURRRULDLURDLLURDDL­URDLUURDDLURURDLURRDLLULDRULDR­RULDRULLDRRULDLURDLU

[Strijdparel]

nope not correct, some where down the second row

[TweetReece]

i don't have need for dollars, could i have a cookie?

[singingbanana]

Yes :)

[just4fun3O1]

he got it?

[singingbanana]

*If* he gets it he can have a cookie :)

[ObsessedLuver]

its impossible

[ZeroError101]

So there are two puzzles here, the possible puzzle (mix up the pieces by sliding them around, and then solve the puzzle), and the impossible puzzle as originally composed by Sam Loyd.

His puzzle is impossible.

[ZeroError101]

You can only slide the blocks; you cannot remove a block from the puzzle. Loyd's original instructions were to start with the arrangement on the left, and rearrange the blocks to end up with the second arrangement in that diagram (switching the 14 and the 15). He tried to get a patent for this puzzle, but the U.S. Patent Office demanded the solution.Loyd admitted that there was no solution; the puzzle is impossible. So the Patent Office refused to grant him a patent.

[albat23ross]

i think itis impossible because you have to change the order of he tiles so you have 15-14 possition.hope you understand what imean.sorry for my english

[ZeroError101]

The 15 Puzzle is the classic sliding block puzzle, by Sam Loyd, perhaps the greatest of all puzzle creators. He originally called it the "Boss Puzzle," and later called it the "15-16 Puzzle." In general, you mix up the numbered blocks and then try to rearrange them back in the original order (the left side of this diagram).

[albat23ross]

i took my 15puzzle(solved)and try to bring it ni the possition of the video and then do the reverse moves to .didnt solve itake it yet.i think its impossible but its hard to explain why

[xKargatx]

it's impossible! It's like the rubiks cube if you take it apart and turn one piec upsidedown than you can't solve it anymore!

[JuicyWubby]

Totally agree .

[NorskNorge]

Well, this one can be solved in 110 moves. Do you want me to write down all of them?

[MrStuckyJ]

If you want to win the $1000.

[JuicyWubby]

Write it down then .

[zh1412]

my method cant solve this pseudo scramble:((

[mismag822]

If the prize were a few decks of cards I would try to figure it out, but since the prize is $1,000 I'm guessing that the solution is almost impossible.

BTW, Are you sure that the solution cannot be found by doing a search on the internet?

[singingbanana]

I've certainly given people enough information to search for it if they wanted...

[MrStuckyJ]

I did search for it, but I could not find the solution.

[JuicyWubby]

Try google or Wikepedia ?

[DupBror]

After I saw this video I knew that it was impossible to do, then I just googled it, read about it, and whoopi-do... It was impossible :). Apparantely Sam Loyd just tried this as a trick to make the game more popular :)

[ericsurf6]

how about a hint? How many moves can it be done in?

[singingbanana]

Are you after my money!

[uneedhelp2]

my god, ericsurf6 and singing banana and mismag822 all on the same page!

what do you know

[TyYann]

For this to be possible, the parity of the number of moves to put the empty space at its place has to be the same as the number of permutations to get to the solution. Here, you have one - an odd number - permutation between 14 and 15, and 0 - an even number - moves to put the empty space at its place. 0 and 1 don't have the same parity: this is impossible.

[mujijibu]

TyYann Sam Loyd couldn't have put it better.

[TyYann]

Singingbanana will put it better, for sure. To sad I don't have the time to make a video response...

[timar03]

i understand the last sentence.

[123Griffin456]

3rd

[jamesfez]

move 1: hit backboard with hammer

move 2: slide 15 down into hand

move 3: slide 14 left

move 4: put 15 back in space

move 5: glue board back on

[mujijibu]

1000 dollars for jamesfez :)

[localbandss]

@mujijibu agreed

[mujijibu]

You sly man, everybody knows it is impossible :)

[MrStuckyJ]

@mujijibu

Agreed. I think it's impossible, too.