Can You Solve It? Are You Cut Out For These Puzzling Slices?
Math enthusiasts, get ready to put your problem-solving skills to the test. Today's puzzles are all geometrical, courtesy of Ian Stewart, the UK's most enduring and eloquent popular maths writer.
First up, we have Bonnie Tiler, a square grid with three corner cells missing. Below it is a tile made of three cells in a line. The question is: can you cover the 33-cell grid with 11 of these tiles? If not, why not?
Ian Stewart's puzzle demands attention to detail and spatial reasoning. With so many possible combinations, will you be able to find a solution that fits all 11 tiles snugly into the grid?
Next, we have Assembly Needed, a shape that can be cut into four identical pieces along black lines. The twist? These pieces can be rearranged to form a square. Can you find an alternative way to cut the left-hand shape into four identical pieces that will still result in a square when reassembled?
Finally, there's Pizza Party, where three pizzas need to be divided among five people. Three get 3/5 slices each, while two receive 2/5 and 1/5 slices respectively. But what if we change the division method? Can you devise a new way to split the pizza into equal-sized pieces for each person?
The clock is ticking β tune in at 5pm UK to find out if your math skills are up to par with Ian Stewart's challenging puzzles!
Math enthusiasts, get ready to put your problem-solving skills to the test. Today's puzzles are all geometrical, courtesy of Ian Stewart, the UK's most enduring and eloquent popular maths writer.
First up, we have Bonnie Tiler, a square grid with three corner cells missing. Below it is a tile made of three cells in a line. The question is: can you cover the 33-cell grid with 11 of these tiles? If not, why not?
Ian Stewart's puzzle demands attention to detail and spatial reasoning. With so many possible combinations, will you be able to find a solution that fits all 11 tiles snugly into the grid?
Next, we have Assembly Needed, a shape that can be cut into four identical pieces along black lines. The twist? These pieces can be rearranged to form a square. Can you find an alternative way to cut the left-hand shape into four identical pieces that will still result in a square when reassembled?
Finally, there's Pizza Party, where three pizzas need to be divided among five people. Three get 3/5 slices each, while two receive 2/5 and 1/5 slices respectively. But what if we change the division method? Can you devise a new way to split the pizza into equal-sized pieces for each person?
The clock is ticking β tune in at 5pm UK to find out if your math skills are up to par with Ian Stewart's challenging puzzles!