Caesar Cipher

Project Description: For this project, we had to decode 5 encrypted messages to try and find Ms. Tran's missing cow. We used the Caesar Cypher code we wrote in previous classes to decode the clues. The first team to get to discover the place where the cow was hiding and solve all the clues would get the prize. We came in fourth, right after Alex Z. and Scarlett, Diana and Ella, and Darsh and Katie's teams.

Procedure: For this project, Rohan used his code that we completed in class to breeze through clues 1-4. His code got all combinations for the non-key Caesar Cipher code and we would both look at the results to try and find the right one. For the 5th clue, it was a lot harder. In clue four, there was a hint which I figured out; that the first 6 numbers were 650806 (I'm very proud of myself; might I add).  Rohan assumed that it was only 10 digits as we mainly worked on 10 digit keys in class. After Rohan and I put our heads ogether and thought for a long time, Rohan came to the conclusion that the last four digits were 9278. The final clue we had to decipher was: Zme cuf swbjs cgwfpmy aa sdeo gx goa fv. So otn zbuqe iz. Pb batkkm aw Rs. Yjpjpke’a uohpkk tw mnv pox nabxtpbk svait. After testing out 650806, Rohan saw that the first 2 words were "The cow, and the next ones were very similar in spelling to "loves candy." After testing out a lot, Rohan and I saw the difference between the "l" and "s" were 9 digits, "e" and "j" were 7 digits, and we guessed and checked for the rest and around our 20th try, we got it correct. After that, Rohan emailed Ms. Tran the answer and completed the project.

CLUE 1: Ms. Tran found an open gate. She is panicking because her cow has gone missing!

This clue introduced me to the problem; that Ms. Tran saw the gate open and thought her cow had gone missing.

CLUE 2: Raul said he saw the cow hanging out with JH kids in the Cue Quad eating mint candy.

This clue means that the cow was eating mint candy with Junior High kids who could possibly be the culprits. Raul was the trusted witness in this clue. 

CLUE 3: Ms. Tran recalls seeing Ms. King and Ms. Sanchez eating the same mint candy.

Now, this clue adds to the mystery, while also making things a little clearer. Ms. Tran is the trusted witness in this case, and she saw Ms. King and Ms. Sanchez eating the same mint candy that the Junior High students were eating, which makes them suspects too.

CLUE 4: Someone found a candy wrapper with “Call me” written next to a number: 650806….

Someone found evidence on a candy rapper with the number "650806"... could this possibly be the answer to finding Ms. Tran's missing cow. 

CLUE 5: The cow loves candies as much as you do. No one stole it. It walked to Ms. Sanchez’s office to get his favorite snack.

The final clue revealed that we were all worrying for nothing, and the cow had simply left on it's own in order to get the candy. 

SOUL Reflection:

Strength: A strength I had in this project was that I already had my code ready, and for the first four clues we were able to breeze through them pretty quickly.

Opportunities: An opportunity I had to improve my project was that I could have spent a long time trying to find a different key, but I figured out that the first numbers were 650806.

Understanding: This project expanded my knowledge on Python and Caesar Ciphers.

Limitations: A limitation I had on this project was that it took us longer to figure out the final clue, so we didn't end up winning.

WISCR Reflection:

Well-Rounded: This helped teach me more about Python, which will help me as I continue to study Computer Science

Insightful and Critical Thinkers: In order to find the last key, we had to count each letter of the sentence backwards in its respective alphabet. 

Self Motivated: Since this project was only between Rohan and I, we had to motivate ourselves and figure out the problems.

Clear Communicators: Rohan and I were able to communicate clearly to figure out each clue.

Respectful Individual of Character: I was very respectful to each of my peers throughout the entire project duration.