Thursday 18 December 2008

THE PUZZLE TO END ALL PUZZLES


This conundrum was sent to me by my good friend DogLover. He adds :-

"The curious thing is that if you add up all the areas of the four parts they come to 0.5 less than the whole.

I.e. The whole covers 5 x 13 squares divided by 2 = 32.5, but the individual parts add up to 32.

I don't understand why. Is this something that leads to an explanation of the puzzle? If so, I can't see it!"


Is that weird or what?

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is beyond my brain power and I'll try not to let it enter my sleeping mind tonight. If it does, I'll blame you tomorrow.

Flagmaker

Sandi McBride said...

I don't know how that can possibly be true...it's one of a few I've seen...I've decided that my eyes are crooked or my mind is one...it's a toss up...Merry Christmas to you and the family!
Sandi

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

I'll believe you RAC - it's too much for me to sort out! I may have to come back to it though!

Maggie May said...

R & C...... what ARE you trying to do to me? I haven't even had breakfast yet & now I feel a migraine coming on!!!!!!!
I hate any thing to do with maths..........

Anonymous said...

Try
http://www.puzzlesolver.com/

Stinking Billy said...

crazy, nuthin' to it. If I had more time I would - hell, gotta go, bye!

Anonymous said...

How are you counting the triangle which makes up the half-rectangle? Because the divided squares are clearly not complete halves, and what's more they vary in proportion owing to the angle of that side.

I must admit - I'm not a mathematician, and the figure is too small to see properly, but that seems to be the important question!

DogLover said...

The simplest way of calculating the areas is by multiplying the squares up by the squares along - and then dividing by 2.

For instance, the whole triangle is 5 squares up and 13 squares long, equalling 65. Then halve the 65 to get the true area of 32.5 squares.

Isn't that right?

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

I can't make head nor tail of it myself Flagmaker.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

When I have more time Sandi I am going to print it, enlarge it, cut it into shapes and see how one fits into the other. But I don't have time right now! A wonderful chrismas to you and all your family too.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

If you every get an answer Anne, be sure to let me know. It's driving me nuts.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

I have always hated maths too Maggie. Who started this anyway. DogLover you are a menace.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

You are obviously the intellectual amoungst us VM. I will check that out too when I have time! (Not!)

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

My sentiments exactly Billy! DogLover, get a life!

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

You are making my brain hurt Jay!

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

OK. OK. DogLover. Now piss off and find something useful to do. Like clean out the drains or something!

DogLover said...

Done the drains already. Any other suggestions?

laurie said...

i'll show this to my brother, who is a math professor. he'll set us all to right in no time.

it's clearly a trick, but i don't know why.

anyway....merry christmas! (you too, doglover, though clearly you don't deserve it for driving us all crazy.)

DogLover said...

OK, Laurie, but I put it to R&C (who is VERY bright) because I thought she would know the answer. It's driving ME crazy too!!

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Hi DogLover, do the drains again!

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Damn Laurie, I have just remembered I was going to ask my mathematician grandson too, but I forgot! Story of my life,