Mathematical Mind-Benders: Can You Crack the Code?
Ian Stewart, a renowned maths writer from the UK, has crafted three mind-bending puzzles that will put your spatial reasoning skills to the test. Can you solve them before 5pm UK time and claim victory over these puzzling slices of geometry?
**Puzzle 1: Bonnie Tiler**
The first puzzle features a square grid with three missing corner cells. Below it is a single tile made up of three cells in a line. Can you cover the entire grid using 11 tiles, ensuring that each cell is filled without any gaps? If not, why not?
Stewart's solution hints at the fact that the 33 cells in the grid are all part of a larger geometric structure that can be replicated to fill it completely.
**Puzzle 2: Assembly Needed**
Cut along the black lines in the provided shape and reassemble the pieces into a new square. Sounds easy, but can you find an alternative way to divide the shape without cutting any lines?
This puzzle requires creative thinking about spatial relationships and geometry.
**Puzzle 3: Pizza Party**
Three pizzas are divided among five people. The first arrangement has three slices going to one person, two slices to another, and a slice each to the remaining three. Another possible distribution is equal slices for everyone. Can you find a solution where all five people receive exactly the same number and size of pieces?
This puzzle is an intriguing challenge that tests your ability to think about distribution and proportions.
As the clock ticks closer to 5pm UK time, will you be able to solve these puzzling puzzles or will they slip through your fingers? Check back for the answers and Ian Stewart's latest book, "Reaching for the Extreme", a fascinating survey of superlatives that showcases his mastery of mathematical concepts.
Ian Stewart, a renowned maths writer from the UK, has crafted three mind-bending puzzles that will put your spatial reasoning skills to the test. Can you solve them before 5pm UK time and claim victory over these puzzling slices of geometry?
**Puzzle 1: Bonnie Tiler**
The first puzzle features a square grid with three missing corner cells. Below it is a single tile made up of three cells in a line. Can you cover the entire grid using 11 tiles, ensuring that each cell is filled without any gaps? If not, why not?
Stewart's solution hints at the fact that the 33 cells in the grid are all part of a larger geometric structure that can be replicated to fill it completely.
**Puzzle 2: Assembly Needed**
Cut along the black lines in the provided shape and reassemble the pieces into a new square. Sounds easy, but can you find an alternative way to divide the shape without cutting any lines?
This puzzle requires creative thinking about spatial relationships and geometry.
**Puzzle 3: Pizza Party**
Three pizzas are divided among five people. The first arrangement has three slices going to one person, two slices to another, and a slice each to the remaining three. Another possible distribution is equal slices for everyone. Can you find a solution where all five people receive exactly the same number and size of pieces?
This puzzle is an intriguing challenge that tests your ability to think about distribution and proportions.
As the clock ticks closer to 5pm UK time, will you be able to solve these puzzling puzzles or will they slip through your fingers? Check back for the answers and Ian Stewart's latest book, "Reaching for the Extreme", a fascinating survey of superlatives that showcases his mastery of mathematical concepts.
I'm low-key obsessed with math puzzles! The idea of cracking the code and solving these mind-bending problems is soooo appealing 
. Puzzle 1 has me stumped – I love how Stewart's solution involves a larger geometric structure, it sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie 
. Puzzle 2 is all about creative thinking, I'm more of a visual person, maybe I need to draw it out and see what I come up with 
. And Puzzle 3? Forget about it, equal slices for everyone sounds like the ultimate goal – can you imagine the pizza party vibes 
!
I'm intrigued by these math puzzles 
... gotta try rearranging those pieces to see if I can find another way 
... after reading through it like 3 times already! It seems kinda simple at first but when I try to visualize the tiles, my brain gets all tangled up 
. Can't wait to see if there's a pattern or something that makes sense of those missing corner cells 
. Might need to draw some diagrams and have a snack break before I give it another go 
. I mean, it's not impossible, but it's definitely not obvious either... 
. And then there's Puzzle 2, which seems straightforward at first, but requires some creative thinking about spatial relationships 
. As for Puzzle 3, I think equal slices would be the most satisfying solution - who doesn't love fair distribution? 
️ has anyone tried out Stewart's solution yet?