The Riddler
Problems from FiveThirtyEight, modelled and solved
- Chapters
- 290
- Revised
Selected problems from Oliver Roeder's *Riddler* column at FiveThirtyEight, set out cleanly and solved with a mix of paper-and-pencil reasoning, generating-function techniques, and small Python simulations where the closed form is out of reach.
A working draft. The full collection covers the Express and Classic problems posed weekly between 2015 and 2024, with each entry following the same arc: problem statement, solution sketch, complete working, and where appropriate a short program that confirms the answer numerically.
Contents
- 1The Honest Prince and the Rancher’s Children
- 2Can You Knock Down The Last Bowling Pin?
- 3Can You Find Your Pills?
- 4Can You Make Room For Goats?
- 5How Long Will Your Smartphone Distract You From Family Dinner?
- 6Will The Neurotic Basketball Player Make His Next Free Throw?
- 7Night Falls. A Storm Rolls In. Can You Cross The River?
- 8How Many Cars Will Get Stuck In Traffic?
- 9Will Someone Be Sitting In Your Seat On The Plane?
- 10Should You Pay $250 To Play This Casino Game?
- 11Should You Shoot Free Throws Underhand?
- 12Can You Slay The Puzzle Of The Monsters’ Gems?
Errata
No corrections yet. If you find an error, use the form below or the one at the foot of any chapter; confirmed errors are fixed and listed here.