Can someone explain

[dramaticat]

what an alphactor is?

I'm doing some of the older puzzles and the hint is that it's just a 'normal alphactor' - which is fine, if you know what an alphactor is in the first place!

[Bunnylump]

It's a puzzle in which each letter represents a number. The totals given are the totals of all the numerical values for the letters in that word. You need to approach them by spotting words which are parts of other words and then subtract. If that made no sense at all, do feel free to shout!!

Here's one which I made for the school Christmas quiz a few years ago which has an explanation if you scroll down.

Alphactor KLS WITH ANSWER.xls

(28 KiB) Downloaded 83 times

[dramaticat]

Well, I've given the puzzle a go, but I think it's beyond my mathematical abilities

[Wulfruna]

I used to feel like that - couldn't see how to get started . And yet I usually like number puzzles . But suddenly I spotted what was going on and started making little lists of words with overlapping letters. It's not as bad as it looks once you get going.

[dramaticat]

I thought I was doing OK. There were 3 obvious ones, so I started doing some complicated calculations with other words - only to be pulled up short with a word that had a very high score but, according, to my calculations, the letters were all low numbers

[MBH]

what an alphactor is?

I'm doing some of the older puzzles and the hint is that it's just a 'normal alphactor' - which is fine, if you know what an alphactor is in the first place!

This turned out to be a well timed question didn't it? I'm off for a sing-song on Day 9 of Advent.

[clvrlad]

I thought I was doing OK. There were 3 obvious ones, so I started doing some complicated calculations with other words - only to be pulled up short with a word that had a very high score but, according, to my calculations, the letters were all low numbers

know that feeling

[dramaticat]

Well, I have had help on both the old puzzle and the advent puzzle. I either don't understand at all, or I understand the reasoning but could not possibly hope to have done it on my own.

I can imagine solving one would be quite satisfying, but I've found them both to be a totally frustrating experience.

So I am officially on the alphactors 'ignore' list from now on.

[MBH]

Ah well - you're in good company with our Bunny friend

I've got no idea why I'm (sometimes) able to do these. They feel like they tickle the same bit of my brain that do the 'logic' puzzles. If this and this, then that must be true but the other can't be.

We all have our different skills - so carry on working to your strengths (and experimenting with others)