Questions tagged [matches]
A puzzle from 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional geometry centered around matchsticks, often involving moving, adding, or removing some to achieve some defined goal.
110
questions
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Turn it into a city [closed]
Move exactly 2 matchsticks to turn this number into a city
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
Move one matchstick to create a three-letter word
On a table, you have several matchsticks as arranged below. Your objective is to move a single matchstick to create a three-letter word.
Which matchstick do you move, and how do you move it?
12
votes
15
answers
4k
views
Turn 1111 into zero [closed]
Draw exactly two non-touching straight lines to turn 1111 (as shown below) into zero.
Note: A minus sign is one line
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
an esoteric matchbox
Seeing a vast repository of matchstick puzzles, Professor Moriarty determined to create one of his own. Behold, his greatest crime yet, the best and worst matches puzzle to ever grace this earth with ...
13
votes
11
answers
3k
views
Move exactly two matches to make the two sides equal
Use some creative thinking to make the equation below correct. You must move 2 matches. You cannot alter/modify the = sign. You cannot remove any matches or put one over another match (to make 2 ...
11
votes
1
answer
889
views
Odd solutions are in 3d
This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #11: Now in 3D.
You are given a collection of sticks which are straight lines of length 1. Two such sticks can be attached to each other at their end ...
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Add 3 matches to make 6 squares
This puzzle appeared at the UQ Mobile store at Shibuya Scramble Square:
マッチ棒でできた六角形にマッチ棒を
3本追加して正方形を6つ作りなさい
Add 3 matches to this (a regular hexagon made out of 6 matches) to produce 6 squares.
No ...
2
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Matchstick Puzzle: 6758-267=3519
Move exactly 3 matches to correct the equation.
Reads 6758-267=3519
There are no spaces, just some room for possible matches. In the end we ignore all spaces. Digits that are not seperated by a plus, ...
0
votes
2
answers
171
views
Add a line and fix the typo
My dad has invented a new puzzle genre called “add a line and fix the typo”, but due to his senility I can’t be 100% sure this was a deliberate effort on his part. Last week he showed me a puzzle and ...
4
votes
6
answers
784
views
Use 12 unit length matchsticks to enclose a region whose area is 4 square units [closed]
I do not know the original source of this problem; I have seen it a few places. The solution that I have seen is not pretty in the sense that it lacks symmetry. Can you find an elegant solution? Of ...
4
votes
2
answers
407
views
Number to Country Conversion
Move 3 matchsticks from the number 808 to form the name of a country
4
votes
3
answers
619
views
Move two matches so that no triangle remains [closed]
This puzzle comes from Nobuyuki Yoshigahara. Move two matches so that no triangle remains. There are at least five different solutions. How many solutions can you find?
You can’t burn the matches. ...
0
votes
2
answers
345
views
Make 65-57=91 correct by moving one matchstick [closed]
65 - 57 = 91
Not sure how to make this correct by only moving one matchstick.
-1
votes
7
answers
251
views
The smallest and the largest number [closed]
Shown below is number 10 formed with 5 sticks.
1 Move exactly 1 stick to get the smallest non-zero positive number.
2 Move exactly 1 stick to get the largest non zero positive number.
Some creative ...
6
votes
4
answers
871
views
Paris and Wife Matchstick
Here are two matches dates that I hold with love in my heart:
The current sum is 1970 + 1997 = 3967.
You must requisition at most 10 matches so that the sum is "as big as possible". We will ...