Skip to content

April Fools Cache #4: Fool’s Math Mystery Cache

Hidden : 4/1/2015
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

As this is a puzzle cache, the cache container is NOT hidden at the posted coordinates.

Note that this cache was published on April Fools' Day 2015.
The cache is hidden in 52 acre Marshall Park which is also home to the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.  


You will need to do some pre-work to determine the hiding spot for the cache.  To calculate the actual coordinate, you should NOT use the mathematics that you probably learned in school.  Instead, you will need to use Fool’s Math.

What is Fool’s Math, you say?  Well, a classic example was demonstrated in one of the several “Ma & Pa Kettle” movies of the 1940’s and 1950’s.  (You will likely need to use your internet skills to learn how this Fools/Pa Kettle Math is performed.)  If you’ve ever watched any of the “Ma & Pa Kettle” movies, you will know what Pa Kettle lacked in formal education, he made up for in his savvy ways to avoid work.

The cache container is hidden at:

N 42° 3A.B46’  W 090° 4C.DEF’

where

AB = 36 / 4

CD = 13 + 13 + 13 + 13 + 13 + 13 + 13

EF = 15 x 4


The cache is a regular sized camouflaged container with nice starting swag, a logbook, and a pencil.  Please trade fairly, sign the log, and return the cache to its original state of concealment so this will be a fun find for future cachers as well.  (The cache difficulty rating is based on solving the puzzle, not spotting the cache container.)

While you are in the area, you may also want to check out the other April Fools type caches placed in this park. They are linked here: “April Fools Cache #1: April Tools!” , “April Fools Cache #2”, “April Fools Cache #3”, and "April Fools Cache #5".

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ybbx uvtu naq ybbx ybj.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)