97. MATCH PROBLEMS

It is surprising how much enjoyment and educational value can be found in simple objects. A box of matches provides a good example. Here are a couple of sample mathematical problems that may set you thinking.

• It is easy to place 12 matches to form a single simple boundary which encloses an area of five square units, but can you obtain an area of four square units in the same way?

• Can you form four triangles using just six matches?

All the usual rules apply: no broken matches, crossing matches, or matches left over. These two problems have special interest, because their solution requires an innovative ‘aha!’ step.


http://paulscott.info/aha/39/nasty-match-problem.html

http://paulscott.info/aha2/85/regular-problem.html