this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2025
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xkcd #3125: Snake-in-the-Box Problem

Title text:

Chemistry grad students have been spotted trying to lure campus squirrels into laundry hampers in the hope that it sparks inspiration.

Transcript:

Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com

Source: https://xkcd.com/3125/

explainxkcd for #3125

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[–] morphballganon@lemmynsfw.com 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (4 children)

Either I'm misunderstanding the problem or a length of 8 is possible.

Edit: found my mistake, far left edge has two non-consecutive segments on adjacent corners. Leaving this up in case anyone else tries for a better score.

[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

1000052407

This should do it, or am I missing something?

[–] leftzero@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 months ago

The head would share an edge with the arse (supposing the arse is on the first bend from the tail).

[–] RagingHungryPanda@piefed.social 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'm just nodding along and hoping no one notices i don't know what's happening

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

you mean the snake didn't know internal affairs was on to them the entire time?

[–] draycs@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Unless your snake is an ouroboros, I don't think folks will count the head and tail as consecutive

[–] morphballganon@lemmynsfw.com 2 points 2 months ago

The head and tail aren't adjacent if you only look at my blue line and not the original. But my attempt fails due to the far left edge.

[–] DosDude@retrolemmy.com 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)
[–] leftzero@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 2 months ago

Your snake has two heads.

Also, one of them shares an edge with the tail.