rahulilango.com
Learning and science
interactive math puzzle game
SHOW HN2024
1,054points
172comments
#6of 3,515 in 2024
Top 1%of 2024 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
33 positive, 36 neutral or asking, 6 mixed, 16 critical, out of 91 comments about the project. Thread score +0.24.
Idea: 19 for, 5 againstExecution: 0 for, 6 againstDocs: 1 for, 4 againstDesign: 0 for, 1 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Fun and educational interactive way to learn the four color theorem
From 4 comments
I showed this to my two kids, and we all three enjoyed it. The zero knowledge proof portion didnt really click for me, but we liked the four color map theorem stuff. This led me…
bgoated01 on HN[spoiler alert] I knew that 4 colours sufficed for any arbitrary map from back in the day when I learned this, but still I found it VERY rewarding by attempting to draw a map…
franciscop on HNThis was one of the cooler teaching examples I've ever played with... awesome job! Appreciate the warning that the 5 color map is "very difficult". It felt easy enough, and I…
gkoberger on HNI love this! I'd for this to be a more typical experience in math class (I bought Paul Lockhart's "measurements" but gave up because I felt like I needed a sandbox to play with…
OmarShehata on HN
Zero-knowledge proof illustration helped some people learn the concept
From 2 comments
Nice! I knew the 4-colour theorem but the zero knowledge proof illustration was great. I didn't get it initially but the FAQ cleared it up and I felt like I learned something as…
snthpy on HNThis was fun, I went into this thinking "Ha I already know this theorem" but came out learning something about zero knowledge proofs!
sakras on HN
Good for use with kids and in classrooms or museums
From 3 comments
You might want to get into touch with some museums on science topics to see if they are up to show it. I live in Germany at the moment and know of at least two MINT focused…
nirolo on HNI loved this, and, like others, walked through it with my two kids (7,9). They have up at the last page but they seemed to enjoy the process nonetheless! Good job, would love to…
riffraff on HNThis is awesome and I hope in-general that a lot more education is done this way, especially with complicated concepts. I wonder if this sort of interactive toy explanation is…
gsuuon on HN
Objections
Zero-knowledge proof example confusing and not connected to the coloring game
From 4 comments
Loved the interactions and flow overall but I'm a bit lost on the zero knowledge proof example. I'm familiar with the concept but I don't follow how the example is one. E.g. "By…
zamadatix on HNCan you add to the FAQ at the end an answer to the question "How do I know you're not just showing me two random colors?"? It's possible this is already addressed and I missed it.
AndrewOMartin on HNHow does the zero-knowledge solution make sense? Can't you just cheat and show me two random different colors whenever I click two post-its?
personjerry on HNGreat job! I enjoyed going through the steps. The final though seemed like a huge leap for me, who don’t know anything about those math mysteries (which I assume is your target…
soneca on HN
Three-color challenge and five-color warning are confusing or buggy in places
From 4 comments
I know that it is impossible, but it was fun to try to make a 5 color map work. That being said, is this a bug? https://imgur.com/a/zbkYg9j I can't seem to wrap my head around…
MrZander on HNThere seems to be an error in the backtracking algorithm. E.g.: https://imgur.com/a/1miv1AK
trirpi on HNIt showed a complicated map and asked me if it was 3-colorable. Then it said it can convince me that it's 3-colorable without revealing the solution. But then it demonstrated…
Timwi on HN> Warning: very difficult! Skip after trying a lot. I think "very difficult" is misleading here. It implies there is an answer if you try hard enough.
gpnt on HN
Mobile and UI issues such as Firefox next button and context menus
From 2 comments
In Android using Firefox the button to go to the next challenge doesn't seem to work.
dunefox on HNIt's very fun! Only thing I would change is to make it so clicking on the picture doesn't trigger a text select, it was hard to play because a context menu kept popping up every…
ModernMech on HN
Requests
Fix backtracking errors and bugs in map coloring
From 2 comments
There seems to be an error in the backtracking algorithm. E.g.: https://imgur.com/a/1miv1AK
trirpi on HNI know that it is impossible, but it was fun to try to make a 5 color map work. That being said, is this a bug? https://imgur.com/a/zbkYg9j I can't seem to wrap my head around…
MrZander on HN
Add FAQ and clearer explanations, especially for zero-knowledge proofs
From 2 comments
Can you add to the FAQ at the end an answer to the question "How do I know you're not just showing me two random colors?"? It's possible this is already addressed and I missed it.
AndrewOMartin on HNGreat job! I enjoyed going through the steps. The final though seemed like a huge leap for me, who don’t know anything about those math mysteries (which I assume is your target…
soneca on HN
Allow moving points and right-click removal
From 1 comment
Ahh, very nice. It was fun to rediscover/relearn some of these things through this game. Very nice wording on the 5-color challenge! I think it was the perfect balance. One thing…
aib on HN
Add Europe or other continents
From 1 comment
Would be nice to Introduce another continent like Europe :) it looks really nice tho!
ceva on HN
Questions
How does the zero-knowledge proof example actually prove anything
From 2 comments
Loved the interactions and flow overall but I'm a bit lost on the zero knowledge proof example. I'm familiar with the concept but I don't follow how the example is one. E.g. "By…
zamadatix on HNHow does the zero-knowledge solution make sense? Can't you just cheat and show me two random different colors whenever I click two post-its?
personjerry on HN
Further reading on link between this problem and neural net training
From 1 comment
You mention that this problem has overlap with training neural nets. Could you link some further reading for this? :)
yochem on HN
Alternatives named
Simon Tatham's Puzzles collection
From 1 comment
In the same vein: https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/puzzles/
AlexDragusin on HN
Paul Lockhart's Measurements book
From 1 comment
I love this! I'd for this to be a more typical experience in math class (I bought Paul Lockhart's "measurements" but gave up because I felt like I needed a sandbox to play with…
OmarShehata on HN