Solve this problem you dumdums :) (page 2)

hornetsnest

LOL!

Yup, I remember this one too. The solution is somewhat "creative". However, I'll let Eric educate you folks.

LoneWolf

Uh....yeah, endpoints are included in segments, so the vertices count. Two intersections in one pass. MANY solutions.... These types of problems have nothing to do with mathematics, but unconventional problem solving. The example shown is designed to lead solvers down an entirely impossible way to solve it. An earnest adolescent (that follows directions and examples) can be VERY frustrated by these types of things-particularly the ones that tend to think very traditionally. I used to give these to my students, then quickly noted how seriously they took them, and how pointless it was when one student happened upon the "trick" and then shared it with everyone else. Once shared, the students stop thinking about creative ways to figure it out. Oh well-I bet nephew's teacher didn't get it herself, but had a solution given to her. Shoshana

LittleToe

I'd propose the answer as follows:

Edited to say - darn, it wont embed, and I can't upload it to my website from here.
But a little red box is probably the real solution, anyhow

stillajwexelder

It involves folding the paper -- think outside the box

Satans little helper

you can do it by folding the paper, or you can do it by going through the point at the corner of some of the boxes crossing 3 lines at once

drwtsn32

You can also solve it by using a REALLY thick pen.

Eric

OK, at the risk of making this all pointless, grins to you La Capra, here is the thirty-six year old solution!

The line travels down the last vertical segment, without ever crossing it!!! WOO-HOO! Even when I was eight years old it was bogus.

Eric

Mr Ben

Hey, did you return to your starting point?

Who said you couldn't take your pen off the paper? :)

Sara Annie

Eric, I see your solution, but the directions said:

You have to go through each line only once and come back to the starting point.

Edited to add: If having your line travel through the intersection of lines (not technically crossing anything) is acceptable, I've solved it.

one_ugly_time

If you were to view this problem as though no tricks were intended... ie... lets say each "wall" had a door and the idea was to pass through each door only once (and who cares where you start or finish)... no tricks, no walking through walls, no re-entering doors, no walking through the corners, all that good stuff... oh, and no folding things (cuz it's a real house with doors and walls).

The answer is... in a book I have. I don't want to spoil everyones fun :)

This reminds me of the 3 utilities, 3 houses problem, which is also facinating -- It goes like this --

House 1 House 2 House 3

Gas Electricity Water

Connect 1 of each utility to each house, without crossing over another utility. This problem does have a solution that a baker came up with one boring night. However, countless hours of computer crunching prior to that fateful night could not solve it.

Have fun, ugly

Solve this problem you dumdums :)

Share this