Frivolous Matchstick Puzzles

Looking at some of the comments in the other Matchstick Puzzles posts, it seems like people like to bend the interpretation of these puzzles. So, here are some questions which you should try an answer unconventionally.

You may work in 3-D, layer matchsticks over each other, or be creative in general. However, you may not break up the matchsticks.

I've listed out the questions in the comments below. There is certainly more than 1 answer to each of these questions, so add your approach by replying to it. If you have similar questions, add them to this list too.

#Creativity #MatchstickPuzzles

Easy Math Editor

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Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `$` ... `$` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$

Comments

3) How do you make 3 from 4 matchsticks?

Chung Kevin - 7 years, 5 months ago

Remove 1 matchstick, you have 3 left.

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years, 5 months ago

Make this shape (stretched):

It is a 3.

Daniel Chiu - 7 years, 5 months ago

5) How do you make 5 squares from 4 matchsticks?

Chung Kevin - 7 years, 5 months ago

Uhhh

Make a square. Each matchstick is a "1", which is a square. The square is the last square.

Daniel Chiu - 7 years, 5 months ago

The ends of the matchstick are a square. Place them together to form a larger $2 \times 2$ square, giving you a total of 5.

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years, 5 months ago

1) How do you make 7 unit equilateral triangles form 9 matchsticks?

Chung Kevin - 7 years, 5 months ago

Create two attached tetrahedrons. That is 9 matchsticks, and contains 7 equilateral triangles.

Daniel Liu - 7 years, 5 months ago

Make an equilateral triangle with 3, and then overlap the remaining 6 all on the same side. There are 7x1x1=7 triangles.

Daniel Chiu - 7 years, 5 months ago

2) How do you make 8 equilateral triangles form 6 matchsticks?

Chung Kevin - 7 years, 5 months ago

Overlap 2 matchsticks on each side of an equilateral triangle. That is 2x2x2=8 triangles.

Daniel Chiu - 7 years, 5 months ago

4) How do you make 4 from 3 matchsticks?

Chung Kevin - 7 years, 5 months ago

One up, one horizontal, one diagonal. Look at this: 4.

Daniel Chiu - 7 years, 5 months ago

One up and two forming a V: IV (four in roman numerals)

Joseph Whiting - 7 years, 5 months ago

we will break every matchstick in 5 pieces

vedant AGGARWAL - 7 years, 5 months ago

Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `\(` ... `\)` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$