"Today's puzzles are all geometrical, and all from the mind of the UK's most enduring and eloquent popular maths writer, Ian Stewart. 1. Bonnie Tiler Below left is a square grid with three of its corner cells missing. Below right is a tile made of three cells in a line. Given that there are 33 cells in the grid, can you cover it with 11 of these tiles? If not, why not?"
"3. Pizza party Below is one way to divide three pizzas among five people. Three people get a 3/5 slice, and two get a 2/5 and a 1/5 slice. Another way would be to divide each pizza into five equal slices, with each person getting three. What's the smallest number of pieces so that each person gets exactly the same numbers and sizes of pieces?"
Three geometric puzzles are given. Puzzle 1 features a square grid with three corner cells removed and a straight three-cell tile; the grid totals 33 cells and asks whether eleven such tiles can cover it and why or why not. Puzzle 2 shows a shape that can be cut along black lines into four identical pieces that assemble into a square and asks for a different four-piece cut whose pieces can likewise form a square; pieces may be rotated or reflected. Puzzle 3 considers dividing three pizzas among five people and asks for the smallest number of pieces so everyone receives identical numbers and sizes of pieces.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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