The Simple Book of

Not-So-Simple Puzzles
The Simple Book of
Not-So-Simple Puzzles

Serhiy Grabarchuk
Peter Grabarchuk
Serhiy Grabarchuk, Jr.

Boca Raton London New York

CRC Press is an imprint of the

Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
AN A K PETERS BOOK
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
First issued in hardback 2017
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business

No claim to original U.S. Government works

ISBN 13: 978-1-138-44232-0 (hbk)

ISBN 13: 978-1-56881-418-6 (pbk)

This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reason-
able efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and publisher
cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use. The
authors and publishers have attempted to trace the copyright holders of all material reproduced in
this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission to publish in this form has not
been obtained. If any copyright material has not been acknowledged please write and let us know so
we may rectify in any future reprint.

Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Law, no part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced,
transmitted, or utilized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publishers.

For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, please access www.
copyright.com (http://www.copyright.com/) or contact the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.
(CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400. CCC is a not-for-profit organiza-
tion that provides licenses and registration for a variety of users. For organizations that have been
granted a photocopy license by the CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged.

Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and
are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
http://www.taylorandfrancis.com
and the CRC Press Web site at
http://www.crcpress.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Grabarchuk, Serhiy.
The simple book of not-so-simple puzzles / Serhiy Grabarchuk, Peter
Grabarchuk Serhiy Grabarchuk, Jr.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-56881-418-6 (alk. paper)
1. Puzzles. I. Grabarchuk, Peter. II. Grabarchuk, Serhiy, Jr. III. Title.
GV1493.G73 2008
793.73--dc22
2007049397
 Contents

Preface vii

Puzzles 1
Introduction to Puzzles 3

Quadro Block 6 Pentatriangles 17

Five Buttons 6 The Drop 17
Twenty-Four-Seven 7 Triangle & Two Matchsticks 18
Out of the Y 7 Easy L-Packing 18
Broken Square 8 Golden Budget 19
Why Tee Tee 8 The Shape-Color Connection 19
Elliptic Proportions 9 Separate the Shapes 20
Netting 9 S-Days and T-Days 20
In the Right Triangle 10 The Puzzling Cross 21
Checkered Challenge 58 10 Round-Up 21
Two Unicursal Bricks 11 The Square-Triangle Couple 22
Profiles: The Solids 11 The Die Stack 22
The Wrench Dividing 12 T-Unicursal 23
In the Same Plane 12 The Square Quest 23
The Triangle Quest 13 Signs & Symbols 24
A Smooth Way through the Maze 13 1-2-3 Transforming Puzzle 24
Elastic Trios 14 The Viewpoint 25
The Tube Colors 14 Play with an Erasure 25
The Air Bubble Challenge 15 Trapezoid Contours 26
Three Fragments 15 Add a Row 26
An Odd Field 16 The M-Shaped Count 27
Finding the Solution 16 No Magic 27

v
 What Dice It Matter? 28 Triangles & Digits 44
Hexa Differing 28 Coin Invert 44
The Heart of the Match 29 The Legendary Town 45
DigitCount 29 Cubism 45
The Book Staircase 30 The Matchstick Needle 46
Two Different Triangles 30 Shore Connecting 46
Inside the Grid 31 Cube Differing 47
Drop & Match 31 The Right-Angle Framework 47
Mag2netic 32 The VHS Tricky Packing 48
The Antique Ring 32 Coin Triangle Theorem 48
The Factory Block Puzzle 33 Guess the Phone Number 49
Puzzle Card 33 Magnetic Tetrahedron 49
Coin Upside-Down 34 Tetrapaving 50
The Puzzle Infinity 34 The Yawl 50
The Caravel 35 Stairs in the Pyramid 51
Twin Cubism 35 Cubius 51
Three L’s to a T 36 Penta Duo 52
Equal Perimeters 36 The Jigsaw Square Fusion 52
What’s There in the Square? 37 Brick Knights’ Swap 53
G-Knights Exchange 37 Solid Chain 53
Rectangle Differing 38 The Tomahawk 54
Four More Triangles 38 Delta Cube Score 54
The Four Snakes Puzzle 39 Around the Table 55
Black or White in Cube 39 The Three I’s 55
Pentomino Switch 40 Butterfly Differing 56
The Ancient Pyramid Puzzle 40 NumCount 56
Broken Watch 41 Four Matches & Nautilus 57
Coins Apart 41 Mag3netic 57
The Deer Puzzle 42 Coin Upside-Down 2 58
Cheap Victory 42 The Blue Tetrahedron Puzzle 58
Down the Street or... Finding the Where Is the Solution? 59
House 43 Christmas Tree 59
97 Question 5 43

Solutions
Introduction to Solutions 63
Solutions to Individual Puzzles 64

vi
 Preface

This book derives from Puzzle Miniatures, Volumes 1–3, three

small books published by Serhiy Grabarchuk Puzzles in 1998, 2003,
and 2005, respectively. We call “puzzle miniatures” tricky challenges
that are simple looking, but have not-so-simple solutions.
The book presents more than 100 such “mini-puzzles” of differ-
ent kinds: assembling, mathematical, logical, visual, spatial, number,
word, dissection, dividing, dot-connecting, matchstick, coin, and
some other kinds of challenges and brainteasers.
To learn more about the book and its puzzles, you can visit our
respective websites: Serhiy Grabarchuk (www.ageofpuzzles.com),
Peter Grabarchuk (www.peterpuzzle.com), and Serhiy Grabarchuk,
Jr. (www.unipuzzle.com).
While creating and designing the puzzles for this book, we re-
ceived a great amount of support from the other members of our big
puzzle family, which includes also Tanya Grabarchuk, Helen Homa,
Kate Grabarchuk, and our Ma and Granny, Galina. All puzzles were
selected to make puzzling with them as interesting and pleasant as
possible. Our hope is that the puzzles gathered in this collection will
bring many fun moments to everybody who tackles them. Happy
puzzling!

vii
Puzzles
 Introduction to Puzzles

Puzzles in this collection for the most part are presented in quite a
straightforward and clear way and include detailed drawings and de-
scriptions. For some types of puzzles there are certain general rules
that should be observed, unless otherwise stated.
Difficulty Levels
Puzzles in this collection have a wide range of difficulty levels and
include a mix of easy, moderate, and difficult challenges. There are
no reliable criteria to determine difficulty levels of puzzles precisely
and universally. Moreover, it depends greatly on the solver’s skills
and preferences which puzzle will turn out to be easy, moderate, or
hard. So, puzzles of different difficulty levels are distributed evenly
throughout the book based on our evaluations.
Grids and Patterns
Many puzzles in the book have illustrations with grids and/or pat-
terns within (or around) puzzle shapes in order to show exact pro-
portions for your convenience.
Dividing Puzzles
These are challenges in which you have to dissect or divide some
shapes with lines or with the help of matchsticks, elastic bands, or
different transparent frames.
When you are asked to divide a shape into some number of parts
of the same area, this means that the areas of the parts are equal,

3
although their shapes are not necessarily the same. Remember that
every shape’s area must be fully used when you solve the puzzle.
In dissection puzzles where the shapes are divided and then re-
arranged into other shapes, pieces can be rotated but not turned over
or overlapped.
When you are asked to divide a shape into some number of con-
gruent pieces, the outlines of the resulting pieces must be exactly the
same. Congruent pieces may be mirror images of each other.
If you are asked to find different pieces, this means that no two
pieces can have the same size and shape. (Note that congruent pieces
are not different. )
Matchstick Puzzles
These puzzles use matchsticks, but you can use toothpicks, pencils,
or any other stick-like things of equal length. Matchsticks in all such
puzzles are line segments of length 1, unless another length is speci-
fied. Generally, matchsticks must be placed so that each end touches
another matchstick. There are some exceptions—puzzles in which
the matchsticks are allowed to have loose ends, ends that do not touch
another matchstick. Such exceptions are clearly noted. Matchsticks
must not overlap each other, unless it is stated in the instructions.
You are not allowed to break or bend matchsticks.
Coin Puzzles
Lighter and darker circles always represent different sides of coins;
lighter circles are “heads-up” coins, while darker ones are “tails-up”
coins. You can use other circular pieces instead of coins as long as
you can identify the head and tail.
For sliding-coin puzzles, the coins should slide over the table or
within a board without lifting or jumping over other coins, unless
otherwise stated. In most coin puzzles a move is legal only if the
moved coin touches at least two other coins in its final position. This
“double-touch” rule is required since it ensures an exact position of
the moved coin(s) in its new place.
Three types of coin moves will be performed in coin puzzles in
this book: single-coin moves, pair-coin (including “horizontal-pair”)
moves, and trio-coin moves.
•To perform a single-coin move, you move one coin at a
time so that in its new position it touches at least two other

4
 coins from the unmoved group, except the case when this
coin (marked as @) makes a straight line triad, like O@O.
•To perform a pair-coin move, choose any two adjacent
coins, and move them orthogonally (up or down, left or
right, without rotation) so that in the new position either
both moved coins touch at least one unmoved coin or one
of the moved coins touches two unmoved coins.
•To perform a trio-coin move, choose any three adjacent
coins that form a small equilateral triangle, and move them
orthogonally so that in the new position either at least
two of the moved coins touch at least one unmoved coin
or one of the moved coins touches two unmoved coins.
When start and goal positions for coin puzzles are shown in spe-
cial double diagrams, their shapes and patterns must look and be ori-
ented exactly as shown in the corresponding diagrams, unless oth-
erwise allowed in the instructions to a particular puzzle. Note that
the goal position will not necessarily be in the same place as the start
position was.
Counting Puzzles
In these challenges you will be asked to count all possible shapes hid-
den in some structure or find the maximal number of figures that can
be assembled from some sets of shapes or contours. All such puzzles
will require very careful observation and systematic counting. The
trickiest of these puzzles are challenges with differing or nonequal
distances. They are presented with special boards and push-pins that
you should place in the boards’ holes. As far as we know, the first
puzzle of this type was described by Japanese puzzle guru Nob Yo-
shigahara.

5
Quadro Block

Divide this block into four congruent parts.

Solution on page 64.

Five Buttons

Connect the buttons with four line segments linked at the ends to
form a closed route, passing through the centers of the buttons and
visiting each button just once. The lines cannot cross one another.
Solution on page 64.

6
Twenty-Four-Seven

A big billboard off the road features the “24/7/365” sequence on it.

Obviously, it should mean the business never closes, but considering
it as a true logical sequence, something is wrong with it. Can you say
what?
Solution on page 64.

Out of the Y

or

or

Coins moved
in pairs

Moving one pair of adjacent coins at a time, form the Y in another

place so that the central, darker coin is out of the Y. “Out” means that
it does not touch the Y at all. Can you do this in five pair-coin moves?
Note that you are not allowed to move the central, darker coin!
Solution on page 65.

7
Broken Square

The square is broken into four parts. Two of them have the same area.
Determine which ones these are.
Solution on page 65.

Why Tee Tee

The following puzzle was aired on a local radio station as a contest:

“There is a well-known sequence represented by the three letters
YTT. There are several ways in which these letters can be replaced
with another three letters so that it is still true, but only one way so
that the new sequence looks similar to that starting one; it may be
something like BAA. When can this happen?” Knowing that the an-
swer to the radio contest was, “It can happen two days after this aired,”
the question is, On which day was this puzzle aired on the radio?
Solution on page 65.

8
Elliptic Proportions

In the elliptic shape, what is the ratio of the shaded area to the un-
shaded area? The grid lines of the diagram do not count.
Solution on page 66.

Netting

Link all twelve dots on the 5 × 5 grid with a chain of eleven consecu-
tive connected straight segments. All segments must have exactly the
same length and can touch dots only at their ends. Segments may
cross one another.
Solution on page 66.

9
In the Right Triangle

What one-digit number should replace the question mark in the tri-
angle on the right?
Solution on page 67.

Checkered Challenge 58

Divide the checkered arrow-like shape on the left into four pieces so
that the pieces can be rearranged to form the checkered square on
the right.
Solution on page 67.

10
Two Unicursal Bricks

Draw one continuous, open-ended line within the three-dimensional

space defined by the contour of the two-brick shape in the illustra-
tion. The line cannot cross itself, and no edge of the shape should be
passed twice.
Solution on page 68.

Profiles: The Solids

Pyramid Cone Sphere Cylinder Cube

Each solid shares a profile, either vertical or horizontal, with at least

one of the other solids. The pyramid shares a profile with the cone, a
triangle. The cone, the sphere, and the cylinder all share a profile, a
circle. Moreover, the cylinder shares a profile with the cube, a square.
Now, place all of the five solids in the 3 × 3 grid (one solid per box)
observing the following rule: “If a row, column, or a main diagonal
contains more than one solid, all these solids must share the same
profile within that particular line.”
Solution on page 68.

11
The Wrench Dividing

Using three additional matchsticks, divide the wrench into two parts
of exactly the same area.
Solution on page 68.

In the Same Plane

Five pencils are put on the table as shown. Which two of them are in
the same plane?

Solution on page 69.

12
The Triangle Quest

What is the maximal number of equilateral triangle outlines that can

be formed using the three congruent equilateral triangles? An out-
line counts only if it forms an equilateral, unbroken triangle, no mat-
ter what size it is. You can rotate, move, and overlap triangles as you
wish, but are not allowed to break, cut, or bend them. Note that all
three triangles are opaque, not transparent.
Solution on page 69.

A Smooth Way through the Maze

Exit

Legal

Illegal
Enter

Find a smooth way (without sharp turns) through the contour maze.
Examples of legal and illegal turns in the path are shown in the small
illustrations next to the maze.
Solution on page 69.

13
Elastic Trios

You have two elastic necklaces with three small beads each. Put all six
beads on the perimeter of the grid so the segments of elastic thread
divide the area of the grid into four parts of the same area. No two
beads can share the same point, while the segments of elastic thread
can cross each other.
Solution on page 70.

The Tube Colors

The square tube on the left has some black-and-white pattern inside
it. Looking through the tube from the top along the arrow, one sees
the pattern in perspective on the right. Can you determine whether
the total area of all the black parts is larger, the same, or smaller than
the total area of all the light parts? The lines of the diagram do not
count.
Solution on page 70.

14
The Air Bubble Challenge

Divide the b-like shape (with rounded corners) that was cut out of
a sheet of bubble wrap into four parts that can be rearranged into
the square on the right. You are not allowed to make cuts over air
bubbles, and every part must contain at least one of them. Also, no
part can be flipped over.
Solution on page 70.

Three Fragments

Using five matchsticks, divide the shape into three parts of the same
area. You can put matchsticks only along the lines of the grid in the
shape. Note that a matchstick is as long as two small boxes of the
grid.
Solution on page 71.

15
An Odd Field

An applicant was filling out an application form. He had no signifi-

cant problems with all the fields of the application form except one,
which happened to be coded in an odd way—just as shown in the
illustration. After a moment of hesitation, the applicant figured it out
and filled in this field correctly too. What did the applicant write in
the field? (Hint: The field was not NEW to the applicant.)
Solution on page 71.

Finding the Solution

Can you find the pattern that should be drawn in the top left box in-
stead of the question mark to complete the sequence? The key to the
solution is shown in the central pattern.
Solution on page 71.

16
Pentatriangles

The three-dimensional pentagonal cap has five equilateral triangle

faces. It also has two areas, lighter and darker. First, divide the lighter
area into three parts of equal area and shape (when unfolded into flat
shapes). Then do the same with the darker area of the cap.
Solution on page 72.

The Drop

or

or

Coins moved
in pairs

Transform the seven-coin hexagon on the left into the “drop” frame
on the right by moving one pair of adjacent coins at a time (see small
sample diagrams). Can you achieve this in four pair-moves?
Solution on page 72.

17
Triangle & Two Matchsticks

Using two additional matchsticks, divide the equilateral triangle into

two parts of exactly the same area.
Solution on page 72.

Easy L-Packing

Put all six L-shapes entirely within the 3 × 3 square board at the top
right, placing them along the white lines only. L-shapes can be ro-
tated and flipped over, they can touch and cross each other at the
dots, but no straight segments can overlap. Also, note that L-shapes
are rigid and cannot be bent or folded.
Solution on page 73.

18
Golden Budget

Put the four golden square bricks with area proportions of 1:4:9:16
onto the 3 × 3 grid on the left so that each of the nine boxes contains
some portion of gold in it, and each row and column contains the
same amount of gold. You can put the bricks onto the grid as you
wish, but you are not allowed to overlap them, damage them, turn
them on their side, or put a portion of a brick outside the grid’s out-
line. A brick can occupy several boxes, but what portion of it belongs
to which box is defined by the outline of each particular box.
Solution on page 73.

The Shape-Color Connection

Link the ten colored shapes in the triangle with exactly seven con-
nected straight lines. On your route any two consecutive figures must
differ both in shape and in color, and each figure must be visited only
once. Lines must go through the centers of the shapes and may cross
each other, but never at a shape. “Going through the center” includes
passing straight through a shape and turning at a shape’s center.
Solution on page 73.

19
Separate the Shapes

Each of the shapes is assembled from the same set of two pieces.
While forming these shapes, the pieces were rotated, turned over,
and even overlapped. Figure out the exact shape of the two pieces
and how they were arranged to form each shape.
Solution on page 74.

S-Days and T-Days

Well after the winter holidays, on the first day of a month, two friends
made some curious discoveries about the calendar on the wall:

“Look, the number of the days in this month that start with ‘T’ is
equal to the number of the days that start with ‘S,’” one of them said.
“Cool!” replied the other, looking at the calendar. “But the same is
true about the previous month as well!”
“Hmm...And the total number of these days is the same for each of
these months,” added his friend.
Now, can you determine precisely when (the exact day of the week
and the month) the conversation between the two friends took place?
Solution on page 74.

20
The Puzzling Cross

Divide the cross on the left into six parts so that the parts can be rear-
ranged into the square on the right.
Solution on page 74.

Round-Up

The square is made of four parts. Two of them have the same area.
Which ones are these?
Solution on page 75.

21
The Square-Triangle Couple

Eight matchsticks are arranged into two congruent squares. Can you
move exactly four matchsticks to get exactly two congruent triangles
instead of the squares?
Solution on page 75.

The Die Stack

You have two standard dice (the values that sum to seven on opposite
faces) with truncated corners. Now there are two puzzles. Put one die
on the other in a small stack so that the sum of the pips you can see
from the point directly above the stack (Top Sum) is greater than the
number of pips on the face that touches the table (Bottom Sum).

Puzzle 1. Top Sum is 8 times greater than Bottom Sum.

Puzzle 2. Top Sum is 12 times greater than Bottom Sum.
Solution on page 75.

22
T-Unicursal

Using all seven pieces of the classic Tangram, form the T-shape on
the right. The whole shape must be assembled so that its pattern cre-
ated with all the pieces’ outlines is unicursal. This means that you
should be able to draw it in one continuous, open-ended line that
does not cross itself. The pieces can be rotated and flipped, but not
overlapped. Note that when pieces touch each other along their edg-
es they form a single line.
Solution on page 76.

The Square Quest

What is the maximal number of square outlines that can be formed

on the plane using the four congruent (transparent) square frames?
An outline counts only when it is a perfect, unbroken square of any
size. Outlines can cross and overlap each other. You can rotate, move,
and overlap the frames as you wish, but you are not allowed to break,
cut, or bend them.
Solution on page 76.

23
Signs & Symbols

Which symbol should be placed in the top left cell of the checkered
4 × 4 paper square at the right? (Hint: The small folding diagram (on
the left) can help you understand the idea of how the symbols were
created and distributed within the checkered square.)
Solution on page 76.

1-2-3 Transforming Puzzle

Cutting only along the lines of the grids of the digits, divide each into
four pieces so that the set of pieces will be the same for each digit. In
other words, using this set you can form the 1, then the 2, and, finally,
the 3. Remember that you can rotate pieces as you want, but not flip
or overlap them.
Solution on page 77.

24
The Viewpoint

A
B

Standing right beside the window in his office, SGJ sees the facades
of three buildings as shown in the illustration. The question is, What
would happen to imaginary segments A and B if SGJ lowers his view-
point by sitting down in an armchair? Would each get longer, get
shorter, or remain the same?
Solution on page 77.

Play with an Erasure

shake => snake

Write the word “shake” as shown. Then erase a part of the “h,” and
you have another word: “snake.” How many such word pairs can you
find? Samples of the letters of the English alphabet are provided for
your convenience.
Solution on page 77.

25
Trapezoid Contours

Determine which of the six contour patterns can be formed using

the three single (transparent) trapezoid contours on the right. The
trapezoids can be rotated and overlapped.
Solution on page 78.

Add a Row

In the coin triangle you can count three straight rows containing
three coins each. Now, move two coins into new positions so that
you can count four straight rows of three coins each.
Solution on page 78.

26
The M-Shaped Count

How many mitre shapes (M-shapes) of all possible sizes and orienta-
tions are in the grid? All M-shapes must be similar to the small illus-
tration next to the grid. In fact, a mitre is a square sans a triangular
quarter.
Solution on page 78.

No Magic

Which digit should go instead of the question mark in the 3 × 3

board? Note that the answer is not 5, and it differs from those already
shown.
Solution on page 79.

27
What Dice It Matter?

The five dice in the cross are identical, including the orientations of
the pips on their faces. The dice are standard, so the values on op-
posite faces always add up to 7. Dice touch each other with the same
numbers so that all pips on the touching faces exactly match. In other
words, each pip touches exactly another pip. Determine how many
pips should be drawn on the two faces with the question marks on
them, and show their exact orientation.
Solution on page 79.

Hexa Differing

Place five push-pins in five holes in the board so there are no two
pairs of equidistant push-pins.

Solution on page 79.

28
The Heart of the Match

This shape is divided into two different parts. It is the start shape for
the three following puzzles.

Puzzle 1. Move two matchsticks to form a shape divided into

exactly two congruent parts.
Puzzle 2. Move three matchsticks to form a shape divided
into exactly three congruent parts.
Puzzle 3. Move four matchsticks to form a shape divided into
exactly four congruent parts.
Solution on page 80.

DigitCount

?
What digit should replace the question mark?

Solution on page 80.

29
The Book Staircase

Add two straight lines to the books so that you can see some addi-
tional books similar to those shown.
Solution on page 80.

Two Different Triangles

The coin shape consists of two triangles. One of them, formed of

“heads-up” coins, is equilateral, while another, formed of “tails-up”
coins, is isosceles. Observing the “double-touch” rule and using the
least number of single-coin moves, rearrange the “heads-up” coins
into an isosceles triangle, and the “tails-up” coins into an equilateral
triangle.
Solution on page 81.

30
Inside the Grid

What letter should replace the question mark in the grid?

Solution on page 81.

Drop & Match

With a single matchstick, divide the drop into two parts of the same
area. Note that the two shaded parts of the drop are sectors of two
circles with radii 1 and 2 units, respectively. The matchstick is 2 units
long.
Solution on page 82.

31
Mag2netic

You have a flat square that is a strong magnet. Also, you have a big
stock of equal coins with diameter equal to the square’s side.

What is the maximal number of coins that you can affix directly
to the surface of the square, on both of the square’s sides? Coins will
be held by the magnet when they touch the square’s faces (not just
its edges or corners) directly with some real (even very small) area
of their sides, but never with their rims. Coins can touch each other,
but not overlap.
Solution on page 82.

The Antique Ring

This metal ring looks to be slightly damaged, since in one of its open-
ings (marked with a question mark) a wire element is missing. Can
you restore that element?
Solution on page 82.

32
The Factory Block Puzzle

With three matchsticks, divide the factory block into two parts of the
same area.
Solution on page 83.

Puzzle Card

The 16-digit number of a Puzzle Card credit card is ciphered in 16

vertical stripes as shown. Can you decipher it?
Solution on page 83.

33
Coin Upside-Down

Coins moved
in horizontal pairs

Six identical coins are arranged into a triangle as on the left. Making
only “horizontal-pair” moves, and observing the “double-touch” rule,
turn the triangle upside down as on the right. Achieve the goal in the
least number of the moves. A “horizontal-pair” move is an orthogo-
nal slide of any two horizontally adjacent coins as shown in the small
diagram beneath the goal position.
Solution on page 84.

The Puzzle Infinity

Which two letters should replace the question marks in the central
circles of the diagram?
Solution on page 84.

34
The Caravel

Move five matchsticks so that the caravel of exactly the same shape
sails in another direction. Note that in this puzzle loose ends of
matchsticks are allowed.
Solution on page 85.

Twin Cubism

A B C D E F

Which of the six shapes (A–F) should replace the question mark in
the diagram?
Solution on page 85.

35
Three L’s to a T

Using the three L’s, assemble a symmetric capital T. It should have

all of its legs straight, something like this: T. You can rotate and flip
pieces as you wish, but no overlapping is allowed.
Solution on page 85.

Equal Perimeters

The square is divided into five parts. Which two have the same
perimeter?
Solution on page 86.

36
What’s There in the Square?

What number should replace the question mark in the grid?

Solution on page 86.

G-Knights Exchange

Goal

Eight chess knights, four white and four black, are placed on the spe-
cial G-chessboard as shown in the big diagram. Now, using normal
knight moves, exchange the white and black knights as shown in the
Goal diagram. Counting a consecutive series of leaps by one knight
as one move, can you exchange the knights in exactly 11 moves?
Solution on page 87.

37
Rectangle Differing

Place five push-pins in five holes in the board so that there are no two
pairs of equidistant push-pins.
Solution on page 87.

Four More Triangles

There are four triangles in this figure, counting ones of all sizes. Move
a minimal number of matchsticks to make eight triangles of any sizes.
Note that in this puzzle loose ends of matchsticks are allowed.
Solution on page 87.

38
The Four Snakes Puzzle

A square yard in the Quince Palace has four paths paved as four dif-
ferent snakes. The shapes of these paths are given, so the only chal-
lenge is to put them within the yard. Paths can be rotated and over-
turned, but do not overlap them.
Solution on page 88.

Black or White in Cube

Top-face view Bottom-back view

The surface of a cube is divided into black and white parts as shown.
Determine the ratio of all the black parts to all the white parts. The
gray dividing lines on the cube’s faces do not count.
Solution on page 88.

39
Pentomino Switch

When two pentominoes exchange places, a meaningful pattern is re-

stored. Which two? You can rotate the pentominoes, but do not flip
them.
Solution on page 89.

The Ancient Pyramid Puzzle

Pyramid’s layout

Top view

Each face of the pyramid on the left has a pattern formed of thick and
dashed lines. The three faces and their patterns are shown in the top
view of the pyramid, and in its layout unfolded next to the pyramid.
What pattern should be on the bottom face of the pyramid? Bear in
mind that all patterns’ lines must run along the grid’s lines covering
the pyramid.
Solution on page 89.

40
Broken Watch

The hour hand and the minute hand of the wristwatch are not syn-
chronized properly. To fix the problem, divide the clock-face into
three parts that can then be reassembled so that both hands are per-
fectly synchronized. Your cuts must be along the white lines on the
clock-face.
Solution on page 90.

Coins Apart

X 3X

Goal

Four equal coins, two “heads-up” and two “tails-up” ones, are placed
in a horizontal line. The distance between the centers of the two
“heads-up” coins equals the width of a coin, X.

The object is to reach, in as few sliding-coin moves as possible,

a position for the “heads-up” coins so that the distance between
their centers equals 3X, as shown in the Goal diagram. Observe the
“double-touch” rule. Additionally, at the end both “heads-up” coins
should be along the same horizontal line shown.
Solution on page 90.

41
The Deer Puzzle

Using three matchsticks, divide the shape into three parts of the
same area. Note that a matchstick is as long as two small boxes of the
shape’s grid.
Solution on page 91.

Cheap Victory

Which letter should replace the question mark?

Solution on page 91.

42
Down the Street or... Finding the House

A B

C D

Vertical Street, which starts at the north and runs to the south, cross-
es Horizontal Street (its direction is not revealed) at a right angle, as
shown in the illustration. There are exactly nine houses on each street,
and the sum of house numbers in blocks A and D equals the sum of
house numbers in blocks B and C. As you move along the street from
beginning to end, house numbers are consecutive (1 through 9), and
the odd-numbered houses are always on your left and the even-num-
bered houses on your right.

On which block is house #5 of Horizontal Street, if there are four

houses in block B?
Solution on page 92.

97 Question 5

What digit should replace the question mark?

Solution on page 92.

43
Triangles & Digits

Place the four triangles on the right within the triangle frame so that
all nine digits 1 through 9 appear; their shapes must be as shown
under the triangles, but they can be rotated. Fragments of digits are
depicted both on the triangles and on the frame. You can rotate tri-
angles as you wish, but can neither overturn nor overlap them.
Solution on page 92.

Coin Invert

Eight equal coins, four “heads-up” and four “tails-up,” form a star-
like shape shown in the diagram on the left. Observing the “double-
touch” rule, reach the position shown on the right within the mini-
mal number of single-coin moves. The final orientation of the shape
may differ from that shown.
Solution on page 93.

44
The Legendary Town

The picture shows a bird’s-eye view of a legendary town, which is

famous and desired as much as elusive and impossible to build. What
is the name of that town?
Solution on page 93.

Cubism

You have a 3 × 3 × 3 cube of twenty-seven unit cubes.

Puzzle 1. Divide the cube into three coherent solid polymi-

noes with the same number of unit cubes such that
their surfaces visible on the 3 × 3 × 3 cube’s faces are
equal.
Puzzle 2. Divide the cube into three coherent solid polymi-
noes with the same number of unit cubes such that
their total surface areas are equal. The polyminoes
must differ in shape.
Solution on page 94.

45
The Matchstick Needle

Move three matchsticks so that three triangles of the same shape and
size appear.
Solution on page 94.

Shore Connecting

Example

Build a network connecting all six sides of the hexagonal lake us-
ing the three bridges and seven single piers shown next to the lake.
Place one pier per side of the lake and a single pier somewhere in the
middle of the lake so that each end of each bridge is placed on one of
these seven piers. You can rotate and flip bridges as you wish, but no
free end of a bridge is allowed. Bridges must not overlap one another,
except when their ends meet on the piers. A small example of the
puzzle with a triangular lake, three simple straight bridges, and four
single piers is shown in the small illustration on the left.
Solution on page 94.

46
Cube Differing

Place four push-pins in four nodes of the cubical lattice so that there
are no two pairs of equidistant nodes with push-pins.

Solution on page 95.

The Right-Angle Framework

You have four contour (transparent) square frames. Note that each
frame’s diagonal is equal to the side of the previous frame.

Puzzle 1. What is the maximum number of perfect square out-

lines of any size that can be produced on the plane
with these four square frames?
Puzzle 2. What is the maximum number of right isosceles tri-
angle outlines of any size that can be produced on
the plane with these four square frames?
For both puzzles you can rotate and overlap the frames as you
need, but do not break, cut, or bend them.
Solution on page 95.

47
The VHS Tricky Packing

Fifteen VHS cassettes are placed in a 4 × 11 × 11 box as shown.

It is possible to add one more cassette to them and pack them all
within the box again. How can it be done? Note that each cassette is
1 × 4 × 7.
Solution on page 96.

Coin Triangle Theorem

A A A
A A A
You have a triangle formed of three equal “heads-up” coins; their
heads are marked with A’s. The goal is to rearrange coins into another
triangle as shown in the right diagram with some number of flipping
moves. To perform a flipping move, choose a coin, flip it over, then
move it to another position where it touches two unmoved coins.
Can you prove whether it is possible or not to achieve the goal?
Solution on page 96.

48
Guess the Phone Number

phone: 406.729.?381

The phone number starts with 4 and ends with 1. It has an unusual
property: when all the remaining digits but one are revealed it is pos-
sible to determine the missing digit, whatever its position is. In this
case the seventh digit of the phone number is not revealed. What is
this missing digit, if you know that it is not 5?
Solution on page 96.

Magnetic Tetrahedron

Coin on
the pyramid’s
face

You have a tetrahedron that is a strong magnet. Also, you have a big
stock of equal coins. Note that a coin exactly inscribes a face of the
tetrahedron.

What is the maximal number of coins that you can affix directly
to the surface of the tetrahedron? Coins will be held by the magnet
when they touch the tetrahedron’s faces (not only its edges or corners)
directly with some real (even very small) area of their sides, but never
with their rims. Coins can touch each other, but not overlap.
Solution on page 97.

49
Tetrapaving

You have four contour (transparent) tetrominoes and the 4 × 4 board.

The object is to put all tetrominoes exactly within the board so that
it is divided into eight contour dominoes (1 × 2 contour rectangles).
You can rotate, flip, and overlap the tetrominoes.
Solution on page 97.

The Yawl

Move five matchsticks so that a yawl of exactly the same shape sails in
another direction. Note that in this puzzle loose ends of matchsticks
are allowed.
Solution on page 97.

50
Stairs in the Pyramid

Can you tell (without using any tools) which of the three steps is the
widest? Then check your answer with a ruler.
Solution on page 98.

Cubius

A transparent 3 × 3 × 3 cube contains nine small cubes. What is the

message hidden in this composition?
Solution on page 98.

51
Penta Duo

Two pentomino-like shapes are each formed by five identical coins.

Observing the “double-touch” rule, reach the goal position shown on
the right with the minimal number of single-coin moves.

As a warm-up puzzle, try to solve the backward challenge first, i.e.

reach the initial position from the goal one. You can do that in just
two single-coin moves, while observing the “double-touch” rule.
Solution on page 99.

The Jigsaw Square Fusion

Divide the two jigsaw pieces into four total parts so that the pieces
can be rearranged into a perfect square. The resulting square should
have a regular checkered pattern (except for the “ball” parts) like that
shown on both jigsaw pieces.
Solution on page 99.

52
Brick Knights’ Swap

Spatial Knight's leap

Six chess knights, three white and three black, are placed in the cells
of the special 2 × 3 × 3 transparent block as in the big diagram. Now,
performing normal knight moves, exchange the white and black
knights. Counting a consecutive series of moves by one knight as one
move, can you exchange the knights in less than ten moves? A sample
of a knight’s move inside the block is shown in the small diagram just
next to the block.
Solution on page 100.

Solid Chain

? A B C D E F G

Which one of the seven solids (A–G) should replace the question
mark to complete the chain of solids?
Solution on page 100.

53
The Tomahawk

Show how to divide the tomahawk shape into two parts of the same
area using two matchsticks.
Solution on page 101.

Delta Cube Score

You have a cube with each face divided into two congruent isosceles
triangles. How many triangles of any size are on the surface of the
cube? The sides of these triangles must be along the lines on the cube
(including its edges). Note that you should count triangles assuming
that they are made of thin paper and can be wrapped around edges
of the cube, having some parts located on different faces of the cube.
The triangles cannot be cut or self-overlapped.
Solution on page 101.

54
Around the Table

A family is sitting around the table. Two family members’ names

are already shown. Can you complete the names of the two other
relatives, replacing the question marks with the appropriate letters?
(Hint: This family has four members only.)
Solution on page 102.

The Three I’s

Six pieces are arranged to form three i’s. Move the least number of
pieces to form exactly:
(a) four i’s;
(b) five i’s;
(c) six i’s.
All i’s should have the same shape and size. No unused or over-
lapped pieces are permitted. How many pieces do you have to move
in each case?
Solution on page 102.

55
Butterfly Differing

Place five push-pins in five holes in the board so that there are no two
pairs of equidistant push-pins.
Solution on page 103.

NumCount

What digit should replace the question mark?

Solution on page 103.

56
Four Matches & Nautilus

Using four matchsticks, divide the nautilus shape into two parts of
the same area. Note that shaded parts of the shape are sectors of
three circles with radii 1, 2, and 3 units, respectively. A matchstick
is 2 units long.
Solution on page 103.

Mag3netic

You have a cube that is a strong magnet. Also, you have a big stock of
equal coins. Note that a coin’s diameter is equal to the cube’s edge.

What is the maximal number of coins that you can affix directly
to the surface of the cube? Coins will be held when they touch the
cube’s faces (not only its edges or corners) directly with some real
(even very small) area of their sides, but never with their rims. Coins
can touch each other, but not overlap.
Solution on page 104.

57
Coin Upside-Down 2

or

Coins moved in trios

Ten identical coins are arranged into a triangle as on the left. Mak-
ing only the trio-coin moves, and observing the “double-touch” rule,
turn the triangle upside down as shown on the right. Achieve the
goal in the least number of moves. A trio-coin move is an orthogonal
slide of any three adjacent coins that form a small equilateral triangle
as shown in the small diagrams just beneath the goal position.
Solution on page 104.

The Blue Tetrahedron Puzzle

You have four blue (shaded) congruent squares. Put them together to
form a tetrahedron with all of its faces colored fully in blue. No fold-
ing or bending of squares is allowed. Form the biggest possible fully
blue tetrahedron.
Solution on page 105.

58
Where Is the Solution?

What is the message hidden in the illustration?

Solution on page 105.

Christmas Tree

Move three matchsticks so that you get four equilateral triangles on

the plane.
Solution on page 105.

59
Solutions
 Introduction to Solutions

Solutions to all the puzzles are presented clearly, sometimes with

some further explanations and diagrams provided. In order to show
most solutions, the puzzle diagrams are provided again but with ad-
ditional lines and/or shadings; for example, this technique is used
for dissection, dividing, visual, assembling, and dot-connecting
challenges.
In the solution diagrams of matchstick puzzles, start and final
positions for moved matchsticks are shown as dotted and black
matchsticks, respectively. Solutions of sliding-coin puzzles contain
sequences of consecutive, move-by-move positions of coins, up to
the final positions marked with “F.” A moved coin or moved group of
coins is always outlined with a bold line, and its destination is always
shown with a dotted outline. In the solution diagrams of assembling
coin puzzles, the coins in the final shape are shown as they are; if a
coin was moved from some start position, that position is shown with
a dotted outline, and the moved coin is outlined with a bold line.
For some puzzles more than one solution is possible.

63
Quadro Block

Five Buttons

Twenty-Four-Seven
The sequence 24/7/365 translates to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
and 365 days a year. So, every number deals with some time unit
within a larger time span, and that respective span, in turn, is the
basic unit for the next number in the sequence. Number 365 breaks
the sequence because it deals with days as units as does number 7.
In order to make the sequence logically true, the last number should
have weeks as units within the bigger time span of a year. Thus, it
should be “24/7/52,” or in other words, “24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
and 52 weeks a year.”

64
Out of the Y

1 2 3

4 5 F

5 pair-moves

Broken Square

Why Tee Tee

The YTT sequence is the first letters of the words Yesterday, Today,
and Tomorrow, respectively. In a week there is only one sequence of
days in which the first letters of the days can replace the YTT letters
properly. These are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, or FSS. Thus, the
puzzle was aired on Thursday.

65
Elliptic Proportions

Both ellipses with inscribed rhombuses are obtained from a circle

with an inscribed square, as shown in the uppermost diagram. Thus
the ratio of their areas is 4:2:1. The areas of the small circle, medium
circle, and big circle are in proportion 1:4:16. This leads to the result
that the ratio of the shaded areas to the unshaded areas of the shape
is 5:11.

Netting

66
In the Right Triangle

For both triangles the number by each side represents the length of
the side, while the number inside the triangle represents the area of
the triangle with such sides. For the first triangle the sides are 3, 4,
and 5; this is the so-called Egyptian triangle. Its area is (3 × 4)/2 = 6.
For the second triangle the sides are 3, 6, and 9; this makes a singular
triangle; its area equals 0. Thus, the one-digit number that should
replace the question mark in the second triangle is 0.

Checkered Challenge 58

67
Two Unicursal Bricks

Profiles: The Solids

The Wrench Dividing

The entire area of the wrench is equal to the area of a regular hexa-
gon of side length 1 (the square “handle” fits in the open end of the
“head”). Thus, it equally divides into six equilateral triangles or 12
right triangles. The right part of the divided wrench contains exactly
six right triangles, which is exactly half the wrench’s area, thus the
wrench is divided into two parts of the same area.

68
In the Same Plane

The Triangle Quest

The maximum number of equilateral triangle outlines that can be

formed on the plane from the three congruent equilateral triangles is
seven. The basic solution pattern for this is shown in the illustration.

A Smooth Way through the Maze

Exit Exit

Enter Enter
Solution: Stage 1 Solution: Stage 2

69
Elastic Trios

The Tube Colors

1
4
4 1
1 1

The unfolded tube with the real pattern of its internal walls is shown.
Thus, the ratio of the black parts to the light parts of the pattern is
5:7, and more of the pattern is light.

The Air Bubble Challenge

70
Three Fragments

An Odd Field
The three characters provided in the odd application field are, actu-
ally, arrows pointing Up, Right, and Left, respectively. The first letters
of these three words are “U”, “R”, and “L”, which together are the com-
mon three-letter acronym “URL.” In other words, the applicant filled
in this field with the URL address of his website. Of course, it can be
interpreted that the arrows point to the North, East, and West, result-
ing in the word NEW. But, since the hint states that the field was not
NEW to the applicant, “URL” is the only relevant meaning of the code.

Finding the Solution

Every triangle in each small square is pointing at a line segment on

the opposite side of the square, as shown in the small diagram. In
some cases a line segment is common to two adjacent squares, so two
triangles are pointing at it. As a result we can write eight letters that,
starting from the top left one and going clockwise, spell SOLUTION.
The pattern in the middle square gives the shape of a key.

71
Pentatriangles

The Drop

1 2 3

4 F 4 pair-moves

Triangle & Two Matchsticks

S = S1 + S 2
a S = 8S3
a
S1 = 4S3
S1 S1 = S2
a

S3
1200
S2
1200

72
Easy L-Packing

Golden Budget

The Shape-Color Connection

73
Separate the Shapes

S-days and T-days

The days that start with “S” are Saturdays and Sundays. The days that
start with “T” are Tuesdays and Thursdays. There are only two pairs
of consecutive months that can have an equal number of S-days and
T-days (9 and 9) and the same total numbers of these days in each
of them (18). These are December and January, and July and August
(consecutive months with 31 days each). Also, it can easily be seen
that for the special day counts to be true in either pair, the second
month must begin on Sunday. So, since the two friends’ conversation
happened on the first day of a month, well after all winter holidays,
they are talking about the July–August pair, and their conversation
took place on Sunday, August 1st.

The Puzzling Cross

74
Round-Up

The Square-Triangle Couple

The Die Stack

Solution to Puzzle 1

Solution to Puzzle 2

75
T-Unicursal

The Square Quest

The maximum number of square outlines that can be produced on

the plane from the four identical square frames is 18.

Signs & Symbols

3
4

1
2

A B C D

The symbol on the top left should be placed in the top left cell of the
checkered 4 × 4 paper square. If you fold the square in the four dif-
ferent ways as shown in the diagrams A through D, you will see four
different stylized digits—1, 2, 3, and 4—which appear when two cells
of the square overlap each other.

76
1-2-3 Transforming Puzzle

The Viewpoint
Segment A will get longer, while segment B will get shorter.

Play with an Erasure

Some possible pairs are listed:

77
Trapezoid Contours

Add a Row

The M-shaped Count

In the grid you can find 60 mitre shapes of four different sizes; they
are shown in the four grids.

(24) (24) (8) (4)

Note that the shapes have different orientations in the grid. The num-
bers in parentheses show the total numbers of copies of each shaded
M-shape hidden in the grid, for a total of 60 M-shapes.

78
No Magic

The digit to replace the question mark is 7. The several digits pre-
sented in the puzzle are part of a traditional 3 × 3 magic square.

What Dice It Matter?

Hexa Differing

79
The Heart of the Match

Solution Solution Solution

to Puzzle 1: to Puzzle 2: to Puzzle 3:
2 equal parts 3 equal parts 4 equal parts

DigitCount

?
The digit 5 should replace the question mark. The progression is that
each digit is the number of segments used to form the previous digit.

The Book Staircase

Draw two straight lines as in the illustration on the left. Then turn
the page 180°. Now you can see several additional books; they are
outlined with the bold line.

80
Two Different Triangles

1 2 3 4 F

4 single-moves

Inside the Grid

In the first column, when F and L are superimposed, E is produced.

In the third column, when V and N are superimposed, W is pro-
duced. In the second column, G is missing in order to produce Q
when superimposed with O.

81
Drop & Match

Mag2netic
You can affix 14 coins to the square magnet (seven coins to each side)
as shown in the diagram.

The Antique Ring

Each pair of patterns in the opposite openings always gives the same
pattern. The missing wire element is highlighted.

82
The Factory Block Puzzle

Puzzle Card

The pattern on the Puzzle Card is assembled from 16, single strips
taken from the four separate “digital” cards with big digits 1, 4, 5,
and 7 and placed on the Puzzle Card in their respective places. Thus,
each digit in the 16-digit number represents the strip and digit of the
respective “digital” card.

83
Coin Upside-Down

3 F
1 2 3 pair-moves

The Puzzle Infinity

Let’s go simultaneously from both ends of the infinity line taking two
letters at every step (left + right). We can see the next pairs: SE, MI,
HO, DA, WE, MO, YE, CE, MI. These pairs are the first letters in
the following words that mean different time periods starting from
the shortest: SECOND, MINUTE, HOUR, DAY, WEEK, MONTH,
YEAR, CENTURY, MILLENNIUM , …. The final one can be ETER-
NITY, so the two letters replacing the question marks are E and T.

84
The Caravel

Twin Cubism

All three cube-twins in the diagram are the same but shown from dif-
ferent points of view. Thus, the answer is cube-twins B.

Three L’s to a T

85
Equal Perimeters

What’s There in the Square?

x 1 2 3

The square grid is a multiplication table. Each number is the prod-

uct of the respective row and column numbers. The missing number
is 9.

86
G-Knights Exchange
b a b a

c j c j
d i d i
e h e h

Start f g f g Goal

To exchange the knights you will need the 11 moves listed:

1. b-j-e 7. a-c-j
2. d-b-j 8. i-a-c
3. f-d-b 9. g-i-a
4. h-f-d 10. e-g-i
5. j-f-h 11. j-e-g
6. c-j-f

Rectangle Differing

Four More Triangles

87
The Four Snakes Puzzle

Black or White in Cube

The ratio of all the black parts to all the white parts of the cube’s sur-
face is 1:1.

Top-face view Bottom-back

unfolded view unfolded

since

88
Pentomino Switch

The two pentominoes that should be exchanged are the upper-left

and the lower-right ones. When they are exchanged and placed as
shown, the original pattern is restored: the upper row of pentomi-
noes is A, B, and C; the middle 20 dots are the next 20 undisclosed
letters of the English alphabet; and the lower row of pentominoes is
X, Y, and Z.

The Ancient Pyramid Puzzle

- Ray
- Mirror

89
Broken Watch

Part 1: Part 2: Part 3:

circle ring ring

In the solution, Part 1 is rotated 45 degrees counterclockwise, Part 2

is rotated 75 degrees clockwise, and Part 3 stays as it is.

Coins Apart

1 2

3 F 3X

3 single-moves

90
The Deer Puzzle

The total area of the deer is equal to 15 small square cells of the grid,
or 15 right isosceles triangles of the same area. Each of the two shad-
ed parts of the divided deer contains exactly five right isosceles tri-
angles, which is exactly one third of the deer’s area, thus the deer is
divided into three parts of the same area.

Cheap Victory

The only four capital letters in the English alphabet that can be
constructed from only two equal straight planks joined to-
gether are those shown. The letter V completes this set.

91
Down the Street or... Finding the House
House #5 of Horizontal Street is on block C. The house numbers in
each block are shown in the illustration.

2 4

1 3
A B
8 6 4 2

975 3 1

579
6 8
A + D = 45
B + C = 45 C D

97 Question 5

A 2 should replace the question mark, completing this pattern: 9 – 7

= 2; 7 – 2 = 5.

Triangles & Digits

92
Coin Invert

1 2 3

4 5

6 single-moves 6 F

The Legendary Town

The pattern of the town’s street hides the following letters—S, U, N,
C, I, T, and Y—as shown in the diagrams below. This spells the name
of the famous Utopian city, the Sun-City, or the City of the Sun, de-
scribed by the Italian philosopher Tommaso Campanella in 1602.

93
Cubism

Solution Solution
to Puzzle 1 to Puzzle 2

The Matchstick Needle

Shore Connecting

94
Cube Differing

The Right-Angle Framework

Solution Solution
to Puzzle 1 to Puzzle 2

Puzzle 1. The maximum number of perfect square outlines of

any size that can be produced on the plane from the
four perfect square frames of decreasing sizes is 13.

Puzzle 2. The maximum number of right isosceles triangle

outlines of any size that can be produced on the
plane from the four perfect square frames of decreas-
ing sizes is 16.

95
The VHS Tricky Packing

Coin Triangle Theorem

Each single move “turns” the triangle upside down. Thus, to get the
final triangle turned with its top down, you always need an odd num-
ber of single flipping moves.
Each single move flips a coin from one side to another (heads up
to tails up, and vice versa). Thus, to get all coins in the final position
with all heads (A’s) up, you always need an even number of single
flipping moves.
Therefore, the goal cannot be achieved, since these two facts con-
tradict each other.

Guess the Phone Number

phone: 406.729.4381

The missing digit is 4. All the digits in the number go along chess
knight’s moves from key to key of the phone.

96
Magnetic Tetrahedron
Each face of the tetrahedron holds four coins, so you can affix 16
coins to the magnetic tetrahedron, as shown.

Tetrapaving

The Yawl

97
Stairs in the Pyramid

The bottom step is the widest.

Cubius

Looking at the cube from three different directions, you can see three
letters which spell the word TOY.

98
Penta Duo

1 2 3

4 5 6 F

Solution to main puzzle: 6 single-moves

1 2 F

Solution to backward puzzle: 2 single-moves

The Jigsaw Square Fusion

99
Brick Knights’ Swap

To exchange their positions, knights should perform nine moves as

follows: 18-13, 7-18, 13-6-7, 15-16, 12-9, 4-15, 1-12, 16-1, 9-4.

Solid Chain

9 1

9
4 5 9
4--9--8--7--2--1--0--5
8 9
2
0
9

Each shape in the chain has the number of vertices indicated by the
number next to it in the illustration on the left. When the chain is
completed with the missing shape and then unfolded, as shown on
the right, each indicated pair of shapes has nine vertices total. So,
in order to complete the chain observing this rule, the missing solid
should be double cone B, since it is the only solid with two vertices.

100
The Tomahawk

Delta Cube Score

On the surface of the cube, there are 36 triangles of three different
sizes which are shown in the diagrams.

(12)

(12)

(12)

Note that the triangles have different orientations on the cube. The
numbers in parentheses show the total numbers of copies of each
particular triangle.

101
Around the Table
M A M
J F
J J
A D
S O N

The family sitting around the table is the Year, and its four members
are the four Seasons. Each Season’s three-letter name is actually the
first letters of the three months of that Season as follows:
• Spring: (M)arch, (A)pril, (M)ay;
• Summer: (J)une, (J)uly, (A)ugust;
• Fall: (S)eptember, (O)ctober, (N)ovember;
• Winter: (D)ecember, (J)anuary, (F)ebruary.
The months are arranged counterclockwise starting from Decem-
ber in the lower-right corner.

The Three I’s

(a) (b) (c)

(a) Four i’s are formed by moving two pieces.

(b) Five i’s are formed by also moving two pieces.
(c) Six i’s are formed by rearranging four pieces.

102
Butterfly Differing

NumCount

The digit 5 should replace the question mark. When the entire ex-
pression is turned upside down and all of its digits are read like let-
ters, but backward (from right to left), then the following sentence
can be read: “She holes his shoes.”

Four Matches & Nautilus

103
Mag3netic

Each face of the cube holds five coins, so you can affix 30 coins to the
magnetic cube, as shown.

Coin Upside-Down 2

3
1 2

4 4 trio-moves

104
The Blue Tetrahedron Puzzle

Where Is the Solution?

Christmas Tree

105