WEDDING WONDERS | THE IMAGINARY RECEPTION

ACTIVITY 3

The Message Mender

An imaginary reception printer has changed one number in each of eight message strips. Restore the numbers and decode its message.

Find all eight letters using only the rules and chart below.

1. Read each strip's four numbers from left to right as positions 1, 2, 3 and 4.

2. In a correct strip, the first and second numbers are each 1, 2, 3 or 4.

3. Third = first + second. Fourth = second + third.

4. Exactly one printed number per strip is wrong. Change that number only; keep the other three unchanged.

5. Use the repaired first number as the chart row and the repaired second number as its column. Write that letter beside the strip.

6. Read the letters in strip order, 1 to 8. Put spaces after letters 4 and 6. No other letters or word guesses are needed.

7. Numbers and letters may repeat between different strips.

LETTER CHART

Choose the line with your repaired first number, then the entry labelled with your repaired second number.

First 1: second 1 gives A; second 2 gives M; second 3 gives I; second 4 gives R.

First 2: second 1 gives S; second 2 gives E; second 3 gives T; second 4 gives U.

First 3: second 1 gives O; second 2 gives P; second 3 gives F; second 4 gives H.

First 4: second 1 gives N; second 2 gives D; second 3 gives B; second 4 gives K.

MESSAGE STRIPS

Strip 1: 3, 2, 6, 7; letter _____

Strip 2: 4, 1, 2, 3; letter _____

Strip 3: 2, 1, 3, 7; letter _____

Strip 4: 2, 4, 3, 4; letter _____

Strip 5: 1, 3, 4, 5; letter _____

Strip 6: 2, 1, 5, 8; letter _____

Strip 7: 2, 1, 4, 5; letter _____

Strip 8: 4, 1, 7, 6; letter _____

Message: _ _ _ _   /   _ _   /   _ _

Each slash marks a space, not an extra character.

Finish when every repaired strip obeys both addition rules and your eight letters fill the stated spaces.

Play alone or together. Joining in is optional. Pause, skip or reveal an answer whenever you like.

Optional help: activity-3-hints.txt. Reveal: activity-3-answer.txt.

For paper play, use the selected player pages and a pencil. A reader or scribe may help.
