Toothpick teasers
- Put seventeen toothpicks together to make six squares, like this—
Now, take away four toothpicks so that only four squares are left.
(There are a number of ways to do this.)
- That’s pretty easy, and you probably figured it out quickly. But,
can you take away four toothpicks from the six squares so that only
three squares are left? (Here’s a hint— all the squares needn’t
be the same size!)
3. Arrange twelve toothpicks as shown.
a. Make four squares by moving four toothpicks.
b. Make three squares by moving four toothpicks, c. Make two squares
by moving six toothpicks.If you can’t work out these puzzles, see the answers on page 21.
