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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