Puzzle Setup

• Human cannonball performer discovers sabotage before show
• Cannon power amped to maximum, making launch deadly
• Must fix cannon quickly to catch trapezist who will plummet
• Cannon uses electromagnet powered by energy cells in 16 chambers across 2 levels
• Each level = hollowed square with 3 chambers per side

Energy Cell Constraints

• Survivable acceleration requires: upper level has 2x cells as lower level
• Each chamber contains 1-3 energy cells
• Each side (6 chambers total) must have exactly 11 energy cells
• Original design used specific number, but shipment came 3 cells short
• Mentor made conditions work with reduced number (27 cells needed)

Solution Process

• Range Analysis: Minimum 22 cells (corners only), maximum 44 cells (middle chambers)
• Multiple of 3 Rule: Total must be divisible by 3 due to 2:1 ratio requirement
• Boundary Testing:
  • 24 cells impossible (upper level would need 16, but arrangement fails)
  • 36 cells impossible (would require empty lower chambers)
  • 33 cells fails (lower level can't reach required 11 with constraints)
• Final Solution: 27 total cells
  • Lower level: 9 cells (seven 1's, one 2)
  • Upper level: 18 cells
  • The single 2 must be placed in corner of lower level
  • Upper level arrangement ensures 11 cells per side

Performance Outcome

• Energy cells installed just as ringleader announces act
• Performer confident in solution and has identified saboteur