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Without doubt the Tangram is the most popular
put-together puzzle, and one of the most well known puzzles ever. The
origins of the Tangram are unknown, but the earliest references date
back to the beginning of the 19th century, China. That's why the
puzzle is also known as the Chinese puzzle.
The puzzle consists of seven pieces - tans - obtained by dividing a
square as shown in the illustration. To play with the Tangram simply
print all the seven pieces and then cut them out.
Now you're able to arrange them in many different ways making an
infinite number of nice, fun, and sometimes very puzzling figures. For
every figure you have to use all the seven tans. You're allowed to
rotate the pieces as you wish, and even flip them over. But you can't
overlap the pieces.
We've chosen just a few most popular figures that you may assemble
using all the seven tans. They will give you a good taste of the
puzzle.
The two Men in the bottom illustration are developed by Henry E.
Dudeney, and demonstrate a beautiful paradox. Both Men are assembled
with all the seven tans, but one of them has a foot, while the other
hasn't. Can you make both men, and then explain what's happening with
the foot? |
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Posted: December 11, 2007 |
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