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There's a matches riddle that I can't quite solve. Given the following layout (a 4 matches plus sign connected to a 8 matches square):

  __|__  __|__ |     | |__ __| 

I need to transform this into exactly 3 squares by moving 5 matches only. It's driving me crazy, so if you know how to solve this, please share.

  • 0
    @Zeb I meant exactly. I fixed the question to show this.2011-10-14

2 Answers 2

5
 __|__   |__ __   |     |   |__ __| 
 __|__   |__ __   |   __|    __ __| 
 __|__   |__ __   |   __|      |__| 
 __|__   |__|__       __|      |__| 
 __ __|__   |__|       __|      |__| 
  __ |__|__    |__|        __       |__| 

Or do you mean?

    __|__    __|__   |     |   |__ __| 
    __|__    __|__   |__   |   |   __| 
    __|__    __|__   |__|  |       __| 
    __|__    __|__|   |__|         __| 
    __    __|__    __|__|   |__|           | 
    __   |__|__    __|__|   |__|    
  • 1
    Realizing you can only move 5 sticks really limits which ones you can move. Like creating a new square from nothing would use up 4 moves! Also, you can't get exactly 3 squares if two of them share a side. Keeping these things in mind really limited what could be done. I'll leave both answers up. The other one is a nice puzzle too :)2011-10-14
0

By moving only three matches (the right hand of the plus sign and the two parallel matches below it), you can write a $4$, a $0$ and a $1$ : you get your three squares and you economize two moves !