Matchstick Squares

Question

Twenty-four matchsticks are used to create a 3 x 3 grid. Can you remove eight matchsticks from the configuration so that you are left with two squares that do not touch each other?

@prog_SAHIL Hi, I edited my post not to keep it active but because I wanted to get the badge for 'First Edit'. I didn't know it wouldn't work and that you have to edit someone else's post. — , Jan 18 '18 at 11:21

Phylyp · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-16T11:55:47.540

14

The squares needn't be of the same size.

So, keep all the matches forming the border, keep all the matches forming the center-most square, and remove the 8 matches that join the small center square to the large outer square.

In the below illustration, remove the 8 red matches, leaving behind a blue and green square that don't touch, as they're nested:

edited Jan 16 '18 at 11:55

answered Jan 16 '18 at 11:51

Phylyp

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Sorry, but can you be a bit more clearer what you want to say? – Jan 16 '18 at 11:54
Added an image to help illustrate it, @KhushrajRathod – Phylyp Jan 16 '18 at 11:56
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Oops, I was too slow :-) Took me ages to get the formatting right. – Rand al'Thor Jan 16 '18 at 11:59
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"Remove the 8 matches which do not contribute to the outside square or the central square" – theonetruepath Jan 16 '18 at 12:57
Yep, that's a cleaner explanation :-) @theonetruepath – Phylyp Jan 16 '18 at 13:01

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 16 '18 at 11:59

3

Starting from the following $3\times3$ square:

 -- -- --
|  |  |  |
 -- -- --
|  |  |  |
 -- -- --
|  |  |  |
 -- -- --

remove 8 matches to leave the following two disjoint squares (removed matches denoted by dots):

-- -- --
| . . |
. -- .
| | | |
. -- .
| . . |
-- -- --

answered Jan 16 '18 at 11:59

Rand al'Thor

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Correct Answer, But You were a bit late :P – Sep 12 '18 at 12:43

Matchstick Squares

2 Answers2