AllExperts > Puzzle Solving 
Search      
Puzzle Solving
Volunteer
Answers to thousands of questions
 Home · More Puzzle Solving Questions · Answer Library  · Encyclopedia ·
More Puzzle Solving Answers
Question Library

Ask a question about Puzzle Solving
Volunteer
Experts of the Month
Expert Login

Awards

About Us
Tell friends
Link to Us
Disclaimer

 
 
 
 
About Bernard Hawkes
Expertise
Please read my Policy Statement. Puzzles and brainteasers. Ask and I will help! That said, I`m best at pure logic puzzles. E.g. You have twelve apparently identical coins of which one is counterfeit, being either slightly heavy or light. Determine the counterfeit coin, and whether it is heavy or light, in no more than three weighings using a balance scale. Rebuses and riddles I`m less good at, but will generally get the answer given time. Requests for oddball facts (e.g. What was the second most common girl`s name in 1900? [genuine example - answer: Ruth]) I regard as outside my remit. However, you are welcome to ask, but I may not be able to help you.

Experience
Member of Mensa. Solution to "gry" riddle.
 
   

You are here:  Experts > Games > Puzzles > Puzzle Solving > 14 Year Puzzle Problem

Puzzle Solving - 14 Year Puzzle Problem


Expert: Bernard Hawkes - 7/17/2007

Question
When I was in 5th grade I had a substitute teacher give me a puzzle to try to solve. I am 24 years old now and STILL have not figured it out. I need help. It is killing me! I have filled up notebooks upon notebooks of this puzzle and can not get it. It looks like this


-------------------
|         |         |
|         |         |  
|-------------------|
|    |         |    |
|    |         |    |
-------------------

Ok, now those are supposed to be solid lines but it is the best I can do on the computer. The object of the puzzle is to draw one continuous line through each section of the picture. Each division created by each line on the puzzle equals a different section so look at it like individual squares and rectangles inside the puzzle. You have to draw a continuous line through each side of every square and rectangle. The catch is, you can only cross each line once. You can start from anywhere inside or outside the puzzle but it must be only one line passing through each section.

I hope I explained it well enough and please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Chris

Answer
Hi Chris

As presented to me I can state with absolute certainty that it is impossible to draw your continuous line.

The wording of the puzzle (cunningly) leads you to draw the puzzle the way you have but, if you read it carefully, you will find that there is NO prohibition against drawing the top divider to the right (or left) of BOTH bottom dividers. The puzzle is now easily soluble.

Best wishes,
Bernard.

Add to this Answer   Ask a Question


 
User Agreement | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy | Help
Copyright  © 2008 About, Inc. AllExperts, AllExperts.com, and About.com are registered trademarks of About, Inc. All rights reserved.