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 2005-07-05, 01:00 #1 JuanTutors     Mar 2004 509 Posts Classic puzzle I THINK it's a classic: Code: * * * * * * * * * Connect the 9 dots with 4 lines Last fiddled with by JuanTutors on 2005-07-05 at 01:01
 2005-07-05, 01:03 #2 JuanTutors     Mar 2004 509 Posts Forgot: WITHOUT PICKING UP YOUR PEN
 2005-07-05, 01:23 #3 Wacky     Jun 2003 The Texas Hill Country 32·112 Posts Too easy. One line will do. Just make it curve around as needed to move from one row to the next. Oh! You want us to use 4 connected straight line segments. That's a little harder :) I believe that the classical statement of the problem describes the 9 points as trees in an orchard.
 2005-07-05, 10:19 #4 mfgoode Bronze Medalist     Jan 2004 Mumbai,India 22×33×19 Posts classic puzzle They should be 4 straight lines to make it even harder. Start with a diagonal and (say the right hand lower corner one) and go up this diagonal connecting to the top lefthand upper corner. Then draw the horizintal line connecting the 3 upper dots and move OUT of the square till its in line with the other three forming the straight line down to the left hand lower corner dot . What remains is the left side of 3 dots. Connect them and you have solved the problem. Try it any way but you must get OUT of the square. Most people restrict themselves only within the square . Mally Last fiddled with by Wacky on 2005-07-05 at 11:39 Reason: Spoiler-ized the posting
 2005-07-06, 08:30 #5 ET_ Banned     "Luigi" Aug 2002 Team Italia 17×283 Posts It is a puzzle psychiatrists (sp?) often use to show how lateral thinking and perspective vaalutation may improve your vision of yourself. Luigi
 2005-07-06, 18:13 #6 mfgoode Bronze Medalist     Jan 2004 Mumbai,India 22·33·19 Posts Classic puzzle How right you are luigi and thanks for refreshing my mind on lateral thinking. Dr. Edward de Bono is a pioneer in this field. This is what he says about this particular problem in his book 'Lateral Thinking' "The assumption is here that the straight lines must link up the dots and must not extend beyond the boundaries set by the outerline of dots. If one goes beyond the boundary the problem is easiy solved" As you rightly say this problem can guage a person if he/she is an introvert or an extrovert. The ideal would be to strike an even balance of mind. Mally
 2005-07-29, 04:50 #7 hhh     Jun 2005 37310 Posts Yeah, I knew this one already, so I cannot but post my standard reply: To make it a little harder, connect the nine above dots with 3 straight lines!!! Enjoy, H. Last fiddled with by hhh on 2005-07-29 at 04:51
2005-07-29, 10:56   #8
rogue

"Mark"
Apr 2003
Between here and the

22·3·523 Posts

Quote:
 Originally Posted by hhh Yeah, I knew this one already, so I cannot but post my standard reply: To make it a little harder, connect the nine above dots with 3 straight lines!!! Enjoy, H.
Can you pick up your pen? Is this a Euclidean geometry problem?

2005-07-29, 11:19   #9
Wacky

Jun 2003
The Texas Hill Country

32·112 Posts

Quote:
 Originally Posted by rogue Can you pick up your pen? Is this a Euclidean geometry problem?
Me thinks "hhh" is just a crank

2005-07-29, 15:38   #10
rogue

"Mark"
Apr 2003
Between here and the

188416 Posts

Quote:
 Originally Posted by Wacky Me thinks "hhh" is just a crank
That might be true, but the question begs an answer. If you can pick up your pen, then the solution is obvious. If you cannot, then the solution depends upon whether or not you are using Euclidean geometry. AFAIK, in Euclidean geometry there is no solution, but that doesn't mean that there is no solution in non-Euclidean geometry. So if we expand the scope of the problem to hyperbolic geometry or spherical geometry, the answer could be (and probably is) different.

 2005-07-29, 16:27 #11 akruppa     "Nancy" Aug 2002 Alexandria 2,467 Posts Or hhh assumes that the dots have positive area. Alex

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