R Puzzle: Institvte of Diversified Obscurity

by Matt Sakai

Basically, this is a list of class numbers and class names. The classes are all real classes at MIT and can be found in the bulletin (print or on the web). The numbers for some of them are not correct, though. For example, "18.386 Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos" is actually 18.385.

Take the difference between the incorrect and correct numbers--in the above example, 1--and take that letter of the name of the subject. (Subject numbers that are correct are used for spacing.)

Puzzle #	Real #	Name	Letter
18.386	18.385	Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos	n
9.414	9.402	Language and Thought	t
21H.458	21H.452	Anarchism	h
14.292	14.292	Antitrust Seminar
7.414	7.410	Applied Statistics	l
17.437	17.432	Causes of War: Theory and Method	e
22.631	22.616	Plasma Transport Theory	t
21L.488	21L.476	Romantic Poetry	t
9.088	9.081	Human Memory and Learning	e
11.251	11.229	Advanced Writing Seminar	r
6.034	6.034	Artificial Intelligence
14.134	14.126	Game Theory	o
18.339	18.327	Wavelets and Filter Banks	f
11.007	11.007	Resolving Public Disputes
12.534	12.517	Dynamics of Complex Systems	x
3.075	3.063	Polymer Physics	i
21W.747	21W.747	Rhetoric
2.896	2.882	Principles of Axiomatic Design	x
12.000	12.000	Solving Complex Problems
5.571	5.561	Chemistry in Industry	i
18.131	18.112	Functions of a Complex Variable	x
4.206	4.206	Visualization
6.784	6.763	Applied Superconductivity	v
2.800	2.800	Tribology
15.521	15.518	Taxes and Business Strategy	x
16.331	16.322	Stochastic Estimation and Control	i
1.158	1.149	Application of Technology	i
1.211	1.206	Airline Schedule Planning	i
2.165	2.165	Robotics
16.893	16.882	System Architecture	i
1.010	1.010	Uncertainty in Engineering
24.973	24.955	More Advanced Syntax	x
HST.580	HST.573	Complex Biological Control Systems	x
24.231	24.231	Ethics
17.425	17.416	International Strategy	i
4.376	4.362	Dimensions of Time	i
11.123	11.123	Big Plans
24.125	24.118	Paradox and Infinity	x
6.251	6.245	Multivariable Control Systems	v
15.080	15.065	Decision Analysis	i

This spells out "NTH LETTER OF XI X IX V XIII I XX II XVI". At MIT, roman numerals are only used for course names, e.g., XI = "Ocean Engineering". The courses given here are: tr>

Course	Name	Letter
XI	Urban Studies and Planning	E
X	Chemical Engineering	N
IX	Brain and Cognitive Science	C
V	Chemistry	I
XIII	Ocean Engineering	R
I	Civil and Environmental Engineering	C
XX	Program in Applied Biological Sciences	L
II	Mechanical Engineering	E
XVI	Aeronautics and Astronautics	S

This gives the answer ENCIRCLES.