This problem illustrates a numerical solution for the Instant
Insanity puzzle. Let's associate numbers with the sides
of the cubes of the Instant Insanity problem. Let
White = 1;
Blue = 2;
Green = 3;
Red = 5
Now, the product across the top must be
30, and the product across the bottom must also be 30
(why?). It follows that a solution must have a product
of 900 for the faces on the top and bottom. Consider the
four cubes:Here are the products of top and bottom
for the three possible arrangements of the first cube:
Product
Top: Red
= 5
Bottom: Red
= 5
25
Top: Blue
= 2
Bottom:
White = 1
2
Top:
Red = 5
Bottom:
Green = 3
15
By a clever and systematic analysis of the products of
top and bottom for cubes two, three, and four, you will
find there are several ways of solving the top and bottom
for a product of 900. Only one of these gives a
product of 900 for front and back. This is the solution
to the Instant Insanity puzzle. Find the solution
using this method.
