That's pretty clever, but it's not it - technically the Waves logo has changed to a solid diamond, but if the puzzle isn't found this week, I'll award that 5 Waves.

So (clue) it's not based on the Algebra puzzle...

Bonus Question 1

other possibility:

Number of Blue Diamonds * Number of Yellow Diamonds = Z

2 * 12 = Z

Z = 24

24 -> X

80k is very much. yes, i now what you mean, but it still feels unfair. anyway, i saw you implementing better contermeasures, hope this plan works and keeps the bots away. thank you for the telgram group, but i dont use telegram. i dont like messenger. thats why i like the idea of an official iq cash thread here in the forum.

last but not least congratulations to all winner of this 100k celebration puzzle.

The total prizes were for 120 Waves. (1 Waves is currently US$6.66)

The point was to bring attention to a token in a way that highlights what the token is about: You mine iQCash by solving iQ puzzles.

It's a fun crypto that allows anyone to start earning and get into cryptocurrencies easily - whether you have money or not.

My previous solution to the bonus question 2 was quite generic in terms that it can be used not only in puzzles where a single node has maximum of 2 connections, but also in cases where nodes have N connections to previous layer.

The contest puzzle can be solved faster/easier with the following algo. It is less "mathematical", but it can be easily transformed to code. Basically this algo is a representation of the steps provided by Vlad R.

1. The given puzzle is a matrix of arrows (A). It has 12 rows (n) and 22 columns (m). Each cell of A can take a value of: up (+1), down (-1) or null/empty (NA/0).
2. The puzzle also contains a matrix of nodes (P). It has 13 rows (n +1) and 23 columns (m + 1). Each cell of this matrix contains a value that represents the number of paths leading to this node.
3. Each cell in the very first column of P is eaqual to 1 representing the initial numer of paths (P_i,0 = 1).
4. Every other value of cell in P derives from the following formula:

    P_i,j = if(A_i,j-1 > 0; P_i+1,j-1) + if(A_i-1,j-1 < 0; P_i-1,j-1);
    *it's a bit simplified for better reading; in reality you have to check that values in A and P exist <=> indeces are non-negative (i and j >= 0)

5. That's it. The only value present in the last column will be the total number of paths leading to beta from alpha.


You can see the implementation of the algo here (excel file): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oYvlU0ko07NEE5G36cuYCGzhVcRo2b3Q/view?usp=sharing

Thanks!

Sent you a PM

Thanks to all participants for your efforts.

The contest is now closed. A total of 105 Waves were distributed to the winners. Congrats to all.

You can start mining iQCash right now at https://www.iQCash.net
Many have and have been selling for Waves on Waves DEX.  Others are holding for future price rises and yet to be announced use-cases.

A formal announcement thread of the upcoming new features is still to come.

No date set yet.

We're still performing updates to protect against bots. That may take another few weeks.

Then we begin a marketing campaign to attract new miners.  That may take a month or two depending on results.

Then we'll launch the new features, create a relevant announcement thread and start marketing for investors - this should be when miners start getting better returns for sales of their earned iQCash.