Puzzle 42 - Lost in Translation

Puzzle:

Lost? Here’s a quick guide!

1. Translate 10¹⁰⁰.

2. Translate f(x).

3. Translate 10¹⁰⁰ x 3.

[Solution: The first step, translate 10¹⁰⁰. Three of the crossword clues are a bit strange and are bolded: 18 Across, 35 Across, and 45 Across. “Translate 10¹⁰⁰” suggests using Google (10¹⁰⁰) Translate. When you Google Translate the italicized portion of the crossword clues (“marbles” for 18 Across) into one specific language, you get the crossword entry. Specifically, “marbles” → [English into Lithuanian] → [Lithuanian into English] → “GLASS BALLS,” “little bird told me” → [English into Javanese] → [Javanese into English] → “SMALL BIRDS TO ME,” and “sitting duck” → [English into Korean] → [Korean into English] → “A SITTING DUCK.” For the second step, translate f(x). The second part of these three clues is a function. After translating the crossword entries as if they were functions according to the equations (i.e. translate 35 across according to f(x - 5) - 8, so right 5 and down 8), a particular set of the letters line up. Doing this for all three equations gets you the answer “BLACKBIRD.” Finally, translate “BLACKBIRD” through all three languages used (× 3), in the order that the three answers ended up after step 2. “BLACKBIRD” → [English into Lithuanian] → [Lithuanian into Korean] → [Korean into Javanese] → the answer: RAVEN.]