The diagram below (Figure
33.1) was sent to me by someone with an anagrammatic name. Knowing what nasties
can emerge from Pandora’s cyber-box, I never open email attachments from
unfamiliar sources. However, I know, also, what a rat smells like, so, for
once, I felt confident in taking a risk.
Figure 33.1: The pieces fit, with or without the little blue square. How come?
Copyright unidentified. Fair Dealing asserted.
OK, what do we have? Two
identical right-angled triangles, each 13 units by 5. ‘A’ contains four
constituent shapes: two dissimilar right-angled triangles (red and dark green) and
two L-shaped hexagons (orange and light green), all apparently comprising a
precise geometric tessellation.
Now look at ‘B’. Within an
identical space are the same four shapes along
with an additional one, namely the blue, single-unit square. How can it
possibly fit? Surely, the total area of any shape is equal to the sum of its
parts. This cannot be true in both cases. Therein lies the rub; and it is, I
admit, a pretty neat puzzle.
To find the solution, we must
remember that the total area of ‘A’ is equal to that of ‘B’.
Area of a right-angled
triangle = half the product of its perpendicular sides = ½(13 x 5) = 32½ units.
Next, we must calculate the area
of each constituent shape.
Area of red triangle = ½(8 x
3) = 12 units
Area of dark-green triangle =
½(5 x 2) = 5 units
The hexagons are easy: we can
just count the unit squares in each. Thus:
Area of orange hexagon = 7
units
Area of light-green hexagon =
8 units
Therefore, the area of the sum
of the parts of ‘A’ is 32 (12 + 5 + 7 + 8) units. As for ‘B’, that of the
sum of its parts equals 32 plus one, i.e. 33 units, taking into account
the blue square.
Hence, neither in the case of ‘A’
nor ‘B’ does the total (32½ units) equal the sum of the parts. For ‘A’, the sum
(32 units) amounts to half a unit less than its total, whereas for ‘B’, the sum
(33 units) is half a unit more. In other words, the shapes of ‘A’ are slightly
too small to fit the outer triangle, those of ‘B’ marginally too large. Neither
represents an exact tessellation, despite appearing as such in the diagram. The
truth is that a half-unit (1.5%) area discrepancy can be imperceptible to the
human eye. It is, of course, an optical illusion.
My eyes light up at the sight
of a puzzle (Figure 33.2). Family and close friends know that, which helped me to point the
finger. Besides, my anonymous challenger, your anagram was clumsy. I know who
you are. Nice try, though!
Figure 33.2: Feliz navidad a todos. Voy a estar en contacto pronto.
Copyright © 2011 Paul Spradbery
Copyright © 2011 Paul Spradbery
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