English FAQ Опции

[alan]

How to submit your solution to a puzzle?
1. If a puzzle has only a few feasible answers/solutions, you must justify your answer. If at most 2-3 answers are feasible, the answer itself is not as important as your justification.
2. Check your answer for arithmetic and other simple errors (statistics show that at least 25% of users cannot count to 6). Don't be surprised if a moderator asks you to justify your answer.
3. Try to be clear and concise, yet explain the crucial details. If your solution is TOO brief, a moderator might also respond briefly, e.g. "This is incorrect" or "Justify your answer".
4. Your moderator can clarify the statement/conditions of the puzzle and ask additional questions related to your argument(s).
5. There is no need to argue with your moderator, most of the time, he/she is right and you are wrong. If you strongly feel that your moderator is mistaken, we advise you to contact another moderator to provide arbitration. In addition, the forum has a thread "Please help to decide who is right"
6. If your moderator asks you to justify/explain something that you consider trivial/obvious, be patient. What you consider /trivial/obvious may be simply incorrect/wrong.
7. Try to avoid unnecessary postings such as "Thank you" or "I will think about it". Your moderator will see it as a new post which is a distraction.
8. Each puzzle has the "standard" answer/solution. Yet the moderator will accept an alternate solution if he/she deems it correct, except in a few cases of select riddles.
9. If you are asked to find other solutions, please understand that you answer/solution must be exhaustive. You might recall that x=1 is not a correct solution of the equation x^2=1.
10. If your discussion with a moderator becomes lengthy, please include your answer at the bottom of each consecutive post. This will save time for your moderator.

Who are the moderators?

1. They are regular users with some additional duties.
2. They will check your answers and accept what they consider to
be a correct one. A moderator can only check solutions to the puzzles he/she solved.
3. They can edit the comments, mostly deleting the clues/hints/spoilers.
4. As a group, they discuss and publish new problems/puzzles/riddles.

Q1: If a moderator refuses to accept a correct solution, what should I do?
A: The forum has a thread "Please help to decide who is right". You may also ask another moderator to provide arbitration in your case.

Q2: The statement of the puzzle is incorrect/unclear/vague.
A: Send a PM to any moderator or ask for clarification when you submit your solution.

Q3: When I typed my answer and clicked "Submit", I received a message "You have no access". I lost the text of my solution.
A: Do the following:
1. Open another browser window and log on to www.braingames.ru;
2. Refresh the older browser window. Just in case, you might want to save the text of your solution in the exchange buffer before you click "Submit".

Q4: How can I attach a picture/graph/diagram to my answer?
A: Make sure the file with your graphics has extension GIF, JPG or BMP. Its size should not exceed 400x400 pixels or 100Kb. To upload the file, use the button "Attach graphics".

Q5: Should I justify my answer even if the statement of the puzzle does not mention the need for justification?
A: Yes, it makes sense. As a rule, any answer to a minimax (optimizaton) question should be justified. Both sufficiency (solution works) and necessity (solution is optimal) of your solution should be justified.

Q6: Should I provide the actual code to the problems labeled "For programmers"?
A: No, it suffices to verbally describe your algorithm. Your moderator will ask to elaborate, if necessary.

Q7: Should my solution be identical to the standard one?
A: It is necessary only for riddles where you have to guess the exact answer. In all other cases, a moderator will accept an alternate solution provided it is correct.

Q8: How can I learn the standard answer/solution?
A: If you solved the puzzle, you may ask your moderator. This is the only way.

Q9: How are the points added/subtracted to/from my rating?
A: When your answer is accepted, the puzzle is considered "solved" and you receive the number of points equal to the weight of the puzzle. Every now and then, these weights are recalculated, and your rating is adjusted automatically.

Q10: What does the weight of a puzzle mean?
A: Basically, it is a measure of how difficult the puzzle is.

Q11: What does the "Liked the puzzle" of a puzzle mean?
A: It is a measure of how many users, which solve the puzzle, liked it.

Q12: What is a rating of a user?
A: Its the sum of weights of all solved puzzles.

Q13: How can a user change his/her rating?
A: See Q9.

Q14: What do the numbers in the right column of Top 10 represent?
A: Those are the ratings of top 10 users in each category.

Q15: What is the maximal weight/rating?
A: Most difficult puzzles have weight 5. The maximal possible rating changes when the puzzles are added/deleted or their weights change.

Q16: Why does a puzzle have such a low/high weight?
A: It is somewhat subjective. Some puzzles are difficult but well-known. Some are specialized (e.g. physical vs. mathematical). This question is often asked when the submitted solution is incorrect.

Q17: How many times can I submit a solution to the same puzzle?
A: Unlimited. It does not affect your rating. But you should try to converge onto the right answer in as few iterations as possible. Respect your moderator.

Q18: If my moderator does not respond for a long time, what should I do?
A: You can "up" the discussion by sending a brief message "Please check my answer". If you get no response (within a week), inform sergeip or alan.

Q19: I have submitted a wrong answer. Is it possible to answer once again or to correct the answer?
A: Yes. Go to: Private office-> My answers to problems-> Discussed. Choose a problem and add the comments/remarks/corrections.

Q20: Is there any possibility to learn the answers? We have discussions at work/school/pub and would like to know.
A: No. The only way to learn the answer is to solve the puzzle.

Q21: Who are the Megaminds and the Occupiers? Where did they come from?
A: They are a result of our imagination. Typically, Megaminds represent the light side (Good) and Occupiers are from the dark side (Evil). A Megamind is
like a supersmart superhero. Many puzzles explore different conflicts between Megaminds and Occupiers.

Q22: How can I add a new puzzle? (some details)
A:
1. Send a PM to any moderator containing the puzzle but NO SOLUTION.
2. If a moderator solves it, you may discuss a possibility of publication. The moderator will tell you if the puzzle is not original or not interesting or too ambiguous.
3. Try sending it to several moderators.
4. Ultimately, you may send it to an adminstrator (alan or sergeip).
5. The moderator will post the puzzle on the moderator's forum.
6. It might take some time for moderators to collectively decide whether to publish the puzzle or not. They reach such decision by voting.
7. If the vote is affirmative, the puzzle will be published.
8. Usually, the moderators are the first users that have had solved the puzzle, so they can check the answers of the others.

Q23: How will I know if my answer/solution is correct/incorrect?
A: There is no special notification. If the moderator accepts your solution, the puzzle will be moved to the category "Solved". If your answer is incorrect, the moderator will start a discussion. You should follow the instructions and answer his/her questions.

Q24: How can I change my password?
A: http://en.braingames.ru/?path=changepassw

Q25: I cannot submit solutions. The button "Submit your solution" is inactive.
A: Check the settings of your browser. Checks the scripts and safety options.

Q26: How to submit a solution to a puzzle?
A: Register. Log on to the site. Click the button "To answer the puzzle" under the text of the puzzle. Type your answer in the form that appears. Click "Submit". You SHOULD NOT type your answer anywhere else on the site or on the forum.

Q27: How can I become a moderator?
A: Presently, it is not an option.