Core concept in formation of geometric shapes made up of matchsticks Gain is though great, because matchstick puzzle solving has the assured effect of improvement of basic pattern recognition, method creation and analytical skills which combine to improve your problem solving skills. Only your imagination is the limit of how many different types of matchstick figure making or puzzling you can do. You can make any complex figure made up of matchstick triangles or squares or even polygons with larger number of sides. Matchsticks are very cheap and easily available.In a figure, the matchsticks can be easily rearranged in any way to change the original shape, and.Matchsticks are all of equal length, and so it is very easy to physically make regular geometric shapes like triangles or squares by using matchsticks,.Important advantages of using matchsticks in puzzles are, You may ask, why of all things matchsticks are used in puzzle formations? If you want you may skip the following section and jump straight to the solution. First we will state the reason why matchsticks are popular for making puzzles. But we would say, if you are not able to solve withing 20 minutes then you may be going in random way that would take indefinite time. The following is the six-triangle figure that is to be converted to a 5-triangle figure made of same matchsticks by moving 2 matchsticks with no overlap of two matchsticks or no matchstick kept hanging independently without being a part of any triangle.īefore going ahead, you should try to solve the problem. Solution to 6 triangles matchstick puzzle: Move 2 matches to make 5 triangles The solution to the first matchstick puzzle involves clarity in analytical reasoning on geometric shapes.ĭo give an honest try to solve before going through the solution. How many such possibilities are there? If you think there is more than one possibility, find the others. Recommended time: Ten minutes, though you may take more time, but measure the time and remember the way you have solved it. All sticks must be a part of one or more than one triangle. You cannot throw away any stick, add any new stick and in the new structure five complete triangles will only be there with no stick loose. You have to MOVE 2 (two) sticks to new positions and transform the structure to a five triangle structure. There are six triangles as in the following figure made up of matchsticks. The 6 triangles matchstick puzzle: Move 2 matches to make 5 triangles First part of the puzzle If you like to go through the solution, showing you how a problem puzzle can be solved in systematically using analysis and reasoning.Offering you the satisfaction of solving the puzzle once more, and,.The first matchstick puzzle with its solution we'll present now with the dual objectives of Sticks are easily available, shapes can be made without any effort, and if you are curious, you can make a structure with many matchsticks and see what happens to the structure if you remove, move or add one and then more than one stick. Matchstick puzzles fascinated young and old for ages. How many solutions can you find? Total time to solve 20 minutes. In the 6 triangles matchstick puzzle figure move 2 matches to make 5 triangles.