536 Puzzles and Curious Problems

(Elliott) #1

  1. THE MUTILATED CROSS


Here is a symmetrical Greek Cross
from which has been cut a square
piece exactly equal to one of the arms
of the cross. The puzzle is to cut what
remains into four pieces that will fit
together and form a square. This is a
pleasing but particularly easy cutting-
out puzzle.


Dissection Puzzles 115


  1. THE VICTORIA CROSS


We have shown elsewhere how in-
numerable puzzles may be devised
on the Greek, St. George, or Red
Cross, so familiar to us all, composed
as it is of five equal squares assembled
together. Let us now do homage to
the Maltese or Victoria Cross. Cut
the cross shown into seven pieces that
will fit together and form a perfect
square. Of course, there must be no
trickery or waste of material.
In order that the reader may have
no doubt as to the exact proportions
of the cross as given, I have inserted
the dotted lines. As the pieces A and

B will fit together to form one of those
little squares, it is clear that the area

of the cross is equal to seventeen
such squares.


  1. SQUARING THE SWASTIKA


Cut out the swastika on page 116 and then cut it up into four pieces that will
fit together and form a squ:ue. There can be no question as to the proportions

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