TSandCS: I really loved this puzzle but chose a poor location for it.
Actually had it at another location but it was in the zone of another cache so I had to build this puzzle twice. Not quite up to doing it again especially now that the simple path to overcoming the challenge is well known.
Here is the details of the puzzle mechanics for those that are not listening any longer.
You focus on the math and when you do the rather laborious nested parentheses math you follow your learned behavior of Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtration in order to process the equation properly and get 40 and 73.
Then you do not know what to do to get anything else. There are hints on the page and in log notes. Some about what you know is what gets you in trouble. Or the “last letter” from a “dear relative”.
You need to focus on the poetry looking text up above. It contains three lines, each with six words.
The “last letter” of the words on the first line are PEMDAS also known in American teaching system as Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally representing the Order of Operations Parentheses, Exponents,.... my “dear relative” who is doing this song and dance as her excuse.
Now you have two more sections of puzzle to solve and two more lines of the “poem”
The Second line last letter of the words gives you PEMASD so now go against everything you possibly know about the rules of math and follow a new set of rules. parentheses, exponents, multiplication, addition, subtraction, then division. And now you get the next set of coordinates of 42 and 34.
Repeat this for the third line and you get the final part of the coordinates.
So just like learning to drive on the left side of the road in some countries, it is possible if everyone follows the same rules. So my idea on this puzzle was to have a set of equations that if given three different rules to solve, you get three different answers and they would be the precise coordinates of the cache location.
If you are ever bored, try to take three known different numbers and write one equation that gets you three different answers by changing the rules. Then make it work for the West on same rule changes :)
Thank you to everyone who found this cache, solved the puzzle, met my Aunt Sally, or cursed at me for making them do math using a pencil instead of a calculator.
Sally saved the last dance for Treasure Goddess and Exploradorer and now she is bidding adieu.