Listener crossword 4177: Number Plates by Xanthippe

[midazolam]

First numerical of 2012 and a fun puzzle. Looked daunting at first but it all fell into place with a fun ending

Thanks Xanthippe

[Cloverjo]

Well this has stumped me. I can usually do the numerical ones, while I have never completed a wordy one. I have finished the number grid and found most of the three letter words but can't see the theme. Tough one.

[AndrewG-S]

Great puzzle with an ingenious end game. Let's hope those inferior word oriented crosswords fly by so we can crack on with the next numerical. Thanks Xanthippe

[Ruthrobin]

Sunny-Dave that is a great suggestion, especially if we were given the choice.

[BlackHugh]

I'm also with you on that Sunny-Dave - In fact I am even greedier and would like one of each every week!

[Alan7777]

I used to attempt only the numericals and so I expect to be able to finish these. I thought that this was easier than the normal numerical but the steps following the completion of the numbers added to the challenge. I'm sure I have the correct answer but 'ambiguity' seems an odd word to use in this context - unless I've made a mistake of course.

Overall very enjoyable.

[contendo]

Got there. Very neat. I hope I have interpreted the ambiguity correctly. I think it would be possible (though unlikely) to complete the crossword without being aware of it.
The thing I dislike about numericals is that if, like me, you always make an error early on it doesn't become apparent until you're well down the false trail. All the intervening work is then wasted and there's nothing for it but to go back to the beginning and start again, whereas in a conventional crossword the location of any error is apparent from the conflicts that arise locally.
On the other hand there is something very satisfying when you are on the right track and the figures fall into place in sequence.

[Philoctetes]

I'm finding this a bit of a struggle - possibly because Melbourne the cat insists on sitting on the paper whenever I get it out. I am troubled by the third column. Without being specific, does it have a thematic characteristic?

[Mysterons]

I agree that would be possible contendo, as there are only 3 candidates for the digit change that most solvers will be looking for. Nethertheless a neat puzzle with a new twist on a well-established theme. I wasn't aware of anything particularly thematic about the third column Philoctetes - what did you have in mind ?

[abns]

Thoroughly enjoyable, although I initially bodged up in the same way as many others (I bought the paper edition and went as far as checking the online version for typos - I should have known better)

[teuchter2]

Thanks Coalminers. Since watching 'Pointless' this afternoon I have realised that my list must be inaccurate, so am just about to look for a better one and hope it resolves the dilemma.

[Postigod]

Very nice! The theme fell into place almost as soon as I had completed the numbers, but it took rather longer to resolve the ambiguity than it should have, given the amount of maths I did at A-level and then at university!

Thanks Xanthippe - an excellent construction and a fun solve.

[TheBear69]

For those 'greedy' ones who want more mathematicals, that's just one more reason you should be subscribing to the Magpie (www.piemag.com). You get an excellent math puzzle every month, typically much tougher than the Listener quarterly offering.

[Cloverjo]

Teuchter2, I was wondering how watching Pointless helped you realise your list might be wrong.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, I second the Bear69 - time for another Magpie boost. You get five ordinary crosswords and one numerical each month and the ordinary ones are graded from A (much easier than our weekly Listener, to E (I've never managed one so ...) and the mathematical.

[Cloverjo]

At last. The penny has dropped!
Very good puzzle.

[Cruncher]

Finally resolved this one having refilled the grid twice with the same baffling result. Personally feel slightly annoyed with this one - thought the final ambiguity just a tad too clever-clever - although thought it was a nice piece of construction like everyone else

[borealis]

A very good puzzle indeed - but I'm glad I don't look at AB until finished, since even with BOdger's comment removed (and I think I can work out what it must have been) there are a number of references here that would have pointed me at the final pdm. Much easier to give away things with the mathematical (or semi-mathematical) puzzles? Careful please, folks!
Greatly enjoyed the progressive way this one was structured - thanks, Xanthippe.

[logophile]

Careful please borealis, best not to draw attention to these things !

[williamjohn]

The numbers and theme came easily but the ambiguity stumped me for a while then suddenly it dawned.

[freiheid]

It has been a fun exercise, but at the moment I have one too many of a particular number pair, and not enough of an adjacent number pair. I expect that relates to the ambiguity which I haven't yet unravelled...