Sum by Hotspur

Puzzle explanation

Corrections to misprints spelt out “I propose to consider the question, ‘Can machines think?’”, written by Alan Turing. The grid shows TURING MACHINE. The rows below that show the possible output of such a machine, with each letter in the right-hand half being the “sum” of the letter above and the corresponding letter in the left-hand half of the same row, using A = 1 or 27, B = 2 or 28 etc. Thus ACHINE + REGIME = SHORAJ and so on, down to LIBRAN + SEGOLM = ENIGMA, the name of the cipher machine cracked by Turing and others at Bletchley Park. Continuing the process, ENIGMA + XAXBGN gives COGITO (“I think”), a possible response to Turing’s question. Because of the initial error in the printed grid, COGJTO was also accepted.

The process mimics the action of a Turing machine, which is determined by (1) the current state of the machine, (2) the symbol in the cell currently being scanned by the head and (3) a table of transition rules, which serve as the “program” for the machine. The title refers to the additive process as well as Descartes’ “Cogito ergo sum”.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Misprint Answer Explanation
Across
1 f(I)ne AMENDE (D after MEN) in AE
5 gras(P)ed ZYGOTE (do)ZY + GOT + E
10 f(R)esh MINUET UE(y) in MINT
11 disc(O)rd AJAR RAJA <
12 lea(P) AXEL AXE + (oi)L
13 l(O)w MOODY MOO + D(ut)Y
14 prote(S)t EMO (d)EMO
15 v(E)al DELI (cru)DE LI(quid)
16 o(T)ary SPEARED (P(art) + EARED) after S
18 tro(O)ps HUSSARS ASS < in RUSH *
21 (C)oat UNDE UNDER-AGE − RAGE
22 f(O)rm ARCHETYPICAL APICAL around (THE CRY) *
25 concer(N) CARICATURING (AIR CUT) * in CARING
27 Pre(S)s PROM PR + OM
30   MACHINE M + A + CHINE
31 (I)ces REGIMES EG in RIMES
32 Lo(D) HORA HO + RA
34 sho(E)s SOX S(can) O(pening) + X
35 Ar(R)an’s SAUCH S(hunned) + A + U + CH
36 coa(T)ed MUTE MALEMUTE − MALE
38 (H)eight DHOW D + H + O’ + W
39 s(E)at LIBRAN LIB + RAN
40 (Q)uit GOLEMS GO + LEMS
41 p(U)zzle ENIGMA (HARM + ENIGMA) * = A HAMMERING
Down
1 bonn(E) AMAH MAMA − M + H
2 mu(S)s MIX FIX with M for F
3 se(T) NULLAH NULL + AH
4 w(I)ll DEMI-SEC DEMISE + C
5 cr(O)ss ZOOPHYTA ZO + OP + (t)H(e)Y (s)T(e)A(l)
6 canto(N) YODEL cryptic definition, ref. Swiss cantons
7 (C)amp GAY YAG <
8 Th(A)nks TAMED TA + MED
9 De(N)ude ERODE STEVEDORE < − VETS
15 (M)illet DURA DURA + MEN = DURAMEN
17 b(A)ne RICIN R(ickets) I(sn’t) C(ommon) I(n) N(asal)
19 (C)rab SCROG R in SCOG
20 (H)old IMMATURE IMMURE around (A + T)
23 t(I)e CHAIN UP CHIN UP around A
24 coi(N) ANNA (band)ANNA
26 plan(E) RHOMBI RH + M(an) in OBI
27 pre(S)ent PRODS PR + ODS
28 s(T)ark SHEER homophone of SHEAR
29 S(H)anks GLAMS L(evity) in GAMS
33 v(I)ctor JENA JANE *
35 u(N)der COW 2 meanings
37 pea(K) TAM MAT <
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