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Stage 5 Cipher Challenge

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star
  • Problem
  • Student Solutions
  • Teachers' Resources
The cipher challenge has now been completed.

The star solvers of the process were

Patrick from Woodbridge School in England
Joseph, from Hong Kong

Some of the hardest ciphers were also solved by an Anonymous solver from Somewhere in the US (perhaps you know this enigmatic person?)

Very well done to the many solvers who cracked one or two parts. This was a very difficult challenge, so many congratulations.

The solutions to each code are given in the individual problems themselves, or you can follow these links:

A Roman Conversion? solution

A Fine Thing? solution

Vital? Solution

Semicircle Solution

Up a Semitone? Solution

Jluuis or Even Asutguus? Solution

Ip? Solution

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Probably a Code?

Is the regularity shown in this encoded message noise or structure?

More Secret Transmissions

In 'Secret Transmissions', Agent X could send four-digit codes error free. Can you devise an error-correcting system for codes with more than four digits?

A Roman Conversion?

First cipher

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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