Mathematics

Nonlinear Arrangements

Here’s an arrangement of the numbers 1 to 4, and what it looks like plotted into a 4x4 grid such that each row corresponds to a number in the arrangement.  Notice that the 3 dots on the bottom right form a straight line.

Continue ReadingNonlinear Arrangements

Nonlinear Dots

Here’s a way to put 6 dots into a 3x3 grid such that no 3 dots form a straight line.

Continue ReadingNonlinear Dots

Combination Lock

There’s a combination lock with a 3 digit code with no repeated digits, and for each of our attempts to guess the code it tells us the number of correct digits and ones in the correct places.

Continue ReadingCombination Lock

Folding Squares

If we draw a line through the center of a square, we can fold the square in half along this line.  Depending on the angle this line makes with the horizontal, as shown in the diagram, the folded square will have different looks.

Continue ReadingFolding Squares

Separating Numbers

Here’s one way to put a pair of 1s, a pair of 2s, and a pair of 3s in a row such that the pair of 1s have one number between them, the pair of 2s have two numbers between them, and the pair of 3s have three numbers between them:

Continue ReadingSeparating Numbers

Point in a Polygon

For any point inside a square, the sum of the distances from this point to the four sides is half of the perimeter.

Continue ReadingPoint in a Polygon

Squares in Squares

Let’s draw a smaller square inside a unit square by dividing out a fixed fraction of each side and connecting the dividing point to an opposite angle.

Continue ReadingSquares in Squares

Mod Cycle

Starting with 3, let’s double it and add one (or 2n+1), then modulate the answer by 14 (divide by 14 and take the remainder).  If we repeat these two steps, we get the first cycle.

Continue ReadingMod Cycle

Splitting Ladder

Starting with a natural number at the top, we can split it at each level such that the two lower neighbours always add up to the higher neighbour.  Let’s repeat this process until a row can’t be split using whole numbers in the following row anymore.

Continue ReadingSplitting Ladder

Jumping Tiles

In the following puzzle, each number indicates the distance (vertically, horizontally, or a combination of both) this tile needs to move.  A solution is a rearrangement of all the tiles in the grid that satisfies all the numbers where none of the tiles overlap.

Continue ReadingJumping Tiles