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:
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
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
I'll believe you RAC - it's too much for me to sort out! I may have to come back to it though!
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..........
Try
http://www.puzzlesolver.com/
crazy, nuthin' to it. If I had more time I would - hell, gotta go, bye!
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!
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?
I can't make head nor tail of it myself Flagmaker.
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.
If you every get an answer Anne, be sure to let me know. It's driving me nuts.
I have always hated maths too Maggie. Who started this anyway. DogLover you are a menace.
You are obviously the intellectual amoungst us VM. I will check that out too when I have time! (Not!)
My sentiments exactly Billy! DogLover, get a life!
You are making my brain hurt Jay!
OK. OK. DogLover. Now piss off and find something useful to do. Like clean out the drains or something!
Done the drains already. Any other suggestions?
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.)
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!!
Hi DogLover, do the drains again!
Damn Laurie, I have just remembered I was going to ask my mathematician grandson too, but I forgot! Story of my life,
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