The Vanishing Area Puzzle
Area doesn't change when you rotate or flip over
a shape, yet that is what seems to happen here!
Each pattern is made with 16 pieces
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4 Large violet triangles
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4 small purple triangles
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4 yellow squares
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4 blue pieces with eight sides
In one picture they fit snugly, with no gaps. The other has a white
gap in the middle. So the first picture has a way of using the pieces
to cover more area. But how can this be? the area of the pieces
are no different than before?
This puzzle is from an article by Martin Gardner in Scientific American,
May 1961. If you give up, try printing this page and cut out the
pieces to manipulate. You can also look for clues at the
source of the puzzle here
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