Geometric Puzzle Design

Stewart Coffin

A K Peters/CRC Press | 2007 - 2ª edição | pdf | 5,4 Mb

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This book discusses how to design "good" geometric puzzles: two-dimensional dissection puzzles, polyhedral dissections, and burrs. It outlines major categories of geometric puzzles and provides examples, sometimes going into the history and philosophy of those examples. The author presents challenges and thoughtful questions, as well as practical design and woodworking tips to encourage the reader to build his own puzzles and experiment with his own designs. Aesthetics, phychology, and mathematical considerations all factor into the definition of the quality of a puzzle.

Contents
Preface vii
Introduction ix
1 Two-Dimensional Dissections 1
2 Two-Dimensional Combinatorial Puzzles 17
3 Misdirection-Type Puzzles 37
4 Variations on Sliding Block Puzzles 41
5 Cubic Block Puzzles 45
6 Interlocking Block Puzzles 55
7 The Six-Piece Burr 59
8 Larger (and Smaller) Burrs 69
9 The Diagonal Burr 81
10 The Rhombic Dodecahedron and Its Stellations 87
11 Polyhedral Puzzles with Dissimilar Pieces 99
12 Intersecting Prisms 107
13 Puzzles that Make Different Shapes 113
14 Coordinate-Motion Puzzles 117
15 Puzzles Using Hexagonal or Rhombic Sticks 121
16 Split Triangular Sticks 129
17 Dissected Rhombic Dodecahedra 133
18 Miscellaneous Confusing Puzzles 139
19 Triacontahedral Designs 143
20 Puzzles Made of Polyhedral Blocks 153
21 Intermezzo 161
22 Theme and Variations 167
23 Blocks and Pins 175
24 Woodworking Techniques 187
Finale 197
Bibliography 199

Index 201