Interactive Thermometer bisector simulator. Drag Point A (Start) and Point B (Finish) to see how Warmer vs. Colder answers mathematically bisect the map with a perpendicular line, eliminating half the playable world.
Interactive Thermometer Simulator
Drag Point A (Start) and Point B (Finish) below, or toggle between Warmer and Colder:
Deduction Result: WARMER: Seekers got closer to the hiders at B. The green line divides the map, and the entire half-plane closer to Point A is eliminated (shaded red).
The Mathematics Behind the Thermometer Question
The Thermometer question is mathematically the cleanest deduction card in transit gaming because it slices the world in half.
When seekers travel along a straight path from Point A to Point B, every point on the perpendicular bisector line is at the exact same distance from A and B:
d(P, A) = d(P, B) (The Boundary Line)- If the answer is Warmer:
d(Hider, B) < d(Hider, A). The hider must be on the half-plane containing Point B. - If the answer is Colder:
d(Hider, B) > d(Hider, A). The hider must be on the half-plane containing Point A.
Strategic Tips for Thermometer Questions
- Travel in the Direction of Greatest Uncertainty: Taking a train that runs straight across the center of your remaining playable area yields a perpendicular line that chops the remaining zone in half.
- Avoid Traveling Along an Arc: Thermometer calculations assume straight-line displacement between the starting coordinate and ending coordinate. If you take a looping train that returns near where you started, the net distance between A and B is small, resulting in minimal deduction power.
- Cross-Referencing with Radar: Combining a Thermometer line with a Radar circle quickly reduces the hiders' possible locations to a narrow crescent or wedge.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Near automate the Thermometer question?
In the Near app, seekers start a Thermometer question at their departure stop and complete it upon arrival. Near automatically logs both coordinates, computes the perpendicular bisector, and shades the eliminated polygon on the map as soon as the hiders confirm the answer.
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