Here is a very simple match puzzle.
Move just a single match to form a perfect square.
This is indeed an easy puzzle. However, there are two ways to solve this and the solution depends on who’s solving the puzzle.
For geometers and most people, the obvious solution is:
On the other hand, for number theorists and other people who like to view things differently, they may come up with this:
Oh I’m going to use this in my math class and see what my students think! I love it! Great little tidbit to illustrate the importance of thinking/problem solving strategies in math 🙂
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Love the non-conformist perspective! Keep posting!
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Well, that’s smart!
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show
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I Like It.
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Brilliant! Liked the number theorist’s one. 🙂
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Wow, that’s interesting. I really love theorists 👍
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A good technique, used by theorists. Nice
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Use to try a lot of this at high school…really lovely!!!!
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Ha ha! I GOT it!! 😸💕
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:)
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Sneaky …
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Great!
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I admit, since I’m not a math enthusiast, it took me a minute to ‘get it’. But this is great!
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:)
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I love it and thanks for this – 🙂 might use it as an ice breaker some time
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The question is, which one is the better answer? (Being a math enthusiast, I like the creativity of the number theorist’s solution.)
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I like that better too since most of the people I’ve asked haven’t thought of it (some of them are even mathematicians).
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These number theorists are abstract thinkers, they are the real non-conformists. Very good.
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