In each issue of the Automation Notebook we feature a section of brainteasers. These are the brainteaser answers from Issue 9, 2007 of the Automation Notebook. The brainteaser questions are repeated in black. The answers to the brainteaser questions are highlighted in red with explanations. You can view the brainteasers from Issue 9, 2007 without the answers here: http://library.automationdirect.com/brainteasers-issue-9-2007/
1. Home Alone
A homeowner went to the hardware store to purchase a common household item. She found that she could buy 1 for $0.50, 12 for $1.00, and 144 for $1.50.What was she buying?
Answer: She was buying street numbers for her mailbox/house.
2. Think Inside the Box
Can you assemble these 8 pieces into a 6 x 6 square?
Answer: The graphics below show the solution to this problem.
3. Think Inside the Box II
Can you cut the figure below into four pieces that will fit together to form a square?
Answer: The graphics below show the solution to this problem.
4. Think Inside the Box III
Can you cut this “E” into 5 pieces that will form a perfect square? Each colored section is a square and all are identical in size. You may rearrange and rotate only, no flipping.
Extra credit: Can you do it with only 4 pieces if you are allowed to flip any of the pieces?
Answer: The graphics below show the solution to this problem. For the 5 piece solution cut along these lines…
…and assemble like this:
Extra Credit Answer: The graphics below show the solution to this problem.For the 4 piece solution cut along these lines…
…and assemble like this…
