Match puzzles. Puzzle puzzles from matches Move 4 matches to make it

From pichka - inexhaustible material for compiling puzzles that contribute to the development of imagination, logical thinking and give real pleasure to all participants in the game, young and old. Similar logic games appeared in ancient China about three millennia ago. The role of matches was then played by small bamboo sticks. Then interest in puzzles made of sticks or matches faded away, then arose again. In the 19th and 20th centuries, several collections of puzzles from matches and toothpicks by different authors were printed in different countries, which contributed to the outbreaks of interest in this activity.

In addition to logic and fantasy, a passion for matchstick puzzles will help develop perseverance and attentiveness in a child. The interest of children in matches as a means for compiling and solving logical problems will allow them to forget about their direct purpose.

11 matchstick puzzles with solutions

The problems proposed below are of different levels of complexity and may have other solutions. Try to do the same with your own problems.

Task #1:

a) How to take out 8 matches and get 4 equal squares (has 2 solutions).

b) How to take out 6 matches and get 3 equal squares.

c) How to take out 6 matches and get 2 squares and 2 identical hexagons.

d) How to take out 4 matches and get 1 large square and four identical small ones.

Task #2:

a) Move 4 matches to another place and get 3 equal squares.

b) Move 3 matches and also get 3 equal squares.

Task #3:

Move 3 matches and get 7 equal squares.

Task #4:

a) Move 2 matches and get 7 equal squares.

b) Remove 2 matches from the resulting figure and get 5 equal squares.

Task number 5:

Move 6 matches and get two squares of different sizes.

Task number 6:

Move 6 matches and get 6 equal rectangles.

Task number 7:

Take out 5 matches and get 5 triangles (2 solutions).

Task number 8:

Move 4 matches and get 3 squares.

Task number 9:

Move 5 matches to balance the scales.

Task number 10:

Move 6 matches and get 6 symmetrical identical quadrangles.

Task number 11:

Add two matches to three and you get eight.

We have all tried to solve puzzles with moving matches. Remember those? Simple, clear and quite interesting. We invite you to remember how this is done and solve these 10 exciting tasks. There will be no examples and math here, you can try to think over them together with the children. Each riddle comes with an answer. Here we go? 😉

1. Expand the fish

Exercise. Rearrange three matches so that the fish swims in the opposite direction. In other words, you need to rotate the fish 180 degrees horizontally.

Answer. To solve the problem, it is necessary to move the matches that make up the lower part of the tail and body, as well as the lower fin of the fish. Let's move 2 matches up, and one to the right, as shown in the diagram. Now the fish swims not to the right, but to the left.

2. Pick up the key

Exercise. In this problem, the shape of the key is composed of 10 matches. Move 4 matches to make three squares.

Answer. The task is solved quite simply. Four matches that form that part of the key handle must be moved to the key stem so that 3 squares are laid out in a row.

3. A glass with a cherry

Exercise. With the help of four matches, the shape of a glass is folded, inside of which there is a cherry. You need to move two matches so that the cherry is outside the glass. It is allowed to change the position of the glass in space, but its shape must remain unchanged.

Answer. The solution to this fairly well-known logical problem with 4 matches is based on the fact that we change the position of the glass by turning it over. The leftmost match goes down to the right, and the horizontal one moves to the right by half its length.

4. Seven squares

Exercise. Move 2 matches to form 7 squares.

Answer. To solve this rather complex problem, you need to think outside the box. We take any 2 matches that form the corner of the largest outer square and put them crosswise on top of each other in one of the small squares. So we get 3 squares 1 by 1 match and 4 squares with sides half the match.

5. Hexagonal star

Exercise. You see a star consisting of 2 large triangles and 6 small ones. By moving 2 matches, make sure that 6 triangles remain in the star.

Answer. Move the matches according to this scheme, and there will be 6 triangles.

6. Cheerful calf

Exercise. Move only two matches so that the calf is facing the other way. At the same time, he should remain cheerful, that is, his tail should remain directed upwards.

Answer. In order to look in the other direction, the calf simply needs to turn its head.

7. House of glasses

Exercise. Rearrange six matches so that two glasses make a house.

Answer. From the two extreme matches of each glass, you get a roof and a wall, and you just need to move the two matches at the bases of the glasses.

8. Libra

Exercise. The scales are made up of nine matches and are not in a state of equilibrium. It is required to shift five matches into them so that the scales are in balance.

Answer. Lower the right side of the scale so that it is level with the left. The match-base of the right side must remain motionless.

9. Arrow

Exercise. Move 3 matches so that the arrow changes its direction to the opposite.

Answer. To solve this problem, you will need to move the three bottom matches of the arrow up.

10. House

Exercise. Move one match so that instead of 9 triangles there is only one.

Answer. It is necessary to turn the lower diagonal match, the second diagonal match turns with it, because. lies on top.

Matchstick puzzles have long been used as tasks for the development of logic and. The popularity of such tasks is due to the ease of use and availability of the material from which entertaining geometric and arithmetic figures are composed. You can solve such puzzles at home, at work, on the street or on the road: just find a flat surface for laying out the necessary patterns from matches. Logic games for shifting matches are both simple and complex, so they are suitable for both primary school children (despite the fact that “matches are not a toy for children”) and adults. This page contains interesting tasks with matches of various difficulty levels. For convenience, each task contains an answer and a description of the correct solution, so you can even play online. In addition, at the end of the page there is a link where you can download all the tasks for free.

Rules and walkthrough

The rule of any such puzzle, problem or game is that you need to move one or more matches in such a way that the condition is met. However, it is often not so easy to come to the right decision. To do this, you need to show perseverance, attention and creativity. There are several general rules to ensure that the correct answers when passing match puzzles:

Read the assignment carefully. Find out if there is a catch in it, ambiguous wording. Understand exactly what they want from you. Sometimes the task condition may contain a hint.
Almost any task is aimed at logic and ingenuity, so immediately get ready to look for a non-standard solution, which may take some time for you. Note that lists can overlap each other, move in any direction, and also turn over, unless the opposite is given in the condition.
Look at the figures more widely. Often in the condition of the problem you are asked to move the match so that you get a certain number of geometric shapes (triangles, squares). Please note that several small figures can make up one large one. For example, four squares placed in 2 rows form 5 squares: 4 small and one large.
Try to solve the problem, keeping calm, not trying at all costs to find the answer. Look for the answer consistently, thoughtfully, gradually going through the possible options, trying not to miss the correct answer. Rushing can cause you to miss an answer that you were only one step away from.

Do you like such riddles, games, puzzles and tests? Get access to all interactive materials on the site to develop more efficiently.

Tasks with matches with answers

Below are some examples of popular matchbox problems. I tried to pick up the TOP 9 tasks that go in ascending order of complexity: from the simplest to the most difficult. These tasks are suitable for both children and adults.

To see the solution to the problem, click on the "Answer" button. However, we advise you not to rush and try to solve the puzzle yourself - in this case, you will get real pleasure and good brain training.

1. True equality

Exercise. It is necessary to move only one match in the arithmetic example “8 + 3-4 = 0” laid out with matches so that the correct equality is obtained (signs and numbers can also be changed).

Answer: This classic math matchstick puzzle is solved in multiple ways. As you may have guessed, the matches need to be moved so that other numbers are obtained.
First way. From the eight, we move the lower left match to the middle of zero. It turns out: 9+3-4=8.
The second way. From the number 8 we remove the upper right match and put it on top of the four. As a result, the correct equality is: 6+3-9=0.
The third way. In the number 4, turn the horizontal match vertically and move it to the lower left corner of the four. And again the arithmetic expression is correct: 8+3-11=0.
There are other ways to solve this example in mathematics, for example, with a modification of the sign equals 0+3-4 ≠ 0, 8+3-4 > 0, but this already violates the condition.

2. Expand the fish

Exercise. Rearrange three matches so that the fish swims in the opposite direction. In other words, you need to rotate the fish 180 degrees horizontally.

Answer. To solve the problem, we will move the matches that make up the lower part of the tail and body, as well as the lower fin of our fish. Let's move 2 matches up, and one to the right, as shown in the diagram. Now the fish swims not to the right, but to the left.

3. Pick up the key

Exercise. In this problem, the shape of the key is folded out of 10 matches. Move 4 matches to make three squares.

Answer. The task is solved quite simply. The four matches that make up that part of the key handle must be moved to the key shaft so that 3 squares are laid out in a row.

4. Field for

Condition. It is necessary to shift 3 matches so as to get exactly 3 squares.

Answer. To get exactly three squares in this problem, you need to move the 2 lower vertical matches to the right and left, respectively, so that they close the side squares. And with the lower central horizontal match you need to close the upper square.

5. Puzzle "glass with a cherry"

Condition. With the help of four matches, the shape of a glass is folded, inside of which there is a cherry. You need to move two matches so that the cherry is outside the glass. It is allowed to change the position of the glass in space, but its shape must remain unchanged.

6. Five out of nine

Condition. In front of you are nine small squares formed by twenty-four matches. Remove 8 matches without touching the rest, so that only 2 squares remain.

Answer. For this task, I found 2 ways to solve.
First way. Remove the matches so that only the largest square, formed by the outer matches, and the smallest square in the center, consisting of four matches, remain.
The second way. Also leave the largest square of 12 matches, as well as a square of 2 by 2 matches. At the last square, 2 sides should be formed by matches of a large square, and the other 2 sides should be in the center.

7. Matches touching each other

Exercise. It is necessary to place 6 matches so that each match is in contact with the other five.

Answer. This task requires connecting your creative abilities, and going beyond the plane - after all, matches can be placed on top of each other. The correct solution looks like this. In the diagram, all the matches are really in contact with each other. I want to note that drawing such a figure online is much easier than laying out real matches like this.

8. Seven squares

Condition. Move 2 matches to form 7 squares.

9. Leave 1 triangle

Exercise. Move 1 matchstick so that instead of 9 triangles there is only one.

Decision. This puzzle is not solved in the standard way. To solve the problem, you need to contrive a little (again use your own). We need to get rid of the cross in the middle. We take the lower match of the cross so that it raises the upper one at the same time. We rotate the cross by 45 degrees so that it forms not triangles in the center of the house, but squares.
It is worth noting that it is very difficult to solve this problem online behind a computer screen. But if you take real matches, then the puzzle is solved much easier.

Download

If you do not have time to solve puzzles with matches on our website, you can download all the tasks in the form of a presentation in one, which can be viewed on devices without Internet access or simply printed on several A-4 sheets.

You can download all tasks with matches by.

Play

Despite the fact that matchstick puzzles are a great way to test your wit, they are less and less used every year. It can be said that the less popular matches become (which are replaced by more modern means of making fire), the faster match games and puzzles lose popularity.

However, recently they are beginning to gain their former popularity thanks to the Internet and online games. You can play several.

In this section of the site you are presented with a lot of interesting puzzles, tasks, riddles, rebuses, games, logical tasks with matches. They all have answers. To pre-hide all answers, click the Hide Answers button. Subsequently, to get the answer, you need to click on the word "Answer", located below the task.

Solving puzzles, tasks, riddles with matches develops logic, thinking, visual memory, imaginative thinking.

1) Move one matchstick so that the equality becomes true.

3) Move one matchstick so that the equality becomes true.

4) Move one matchstick so that the equality becomes true. There are two possible answers.

5) Move one matchstick so that the equality becomes true.

6) Remove two matches so that only three squares remain.

7) How to make this equation with Roman numerals correct, while not touching a single match (you can’t touch anything, you can’t blow either).

8) Move one match to make a square.

9) Move 4 matches to make 3 squares.

10) Try to lay out six matches on a flat surface so that each of the matches touches the other five matches.

11) Move one match so that the equality becomes true. In this equation, four and three sticks in a row are equal to four and three, respectively.

12) How can only three matches be placed on a flat surface so that by placing a glass on them, the bottom of the glass will be at a distance of 2,3,4 matches from a flat surface (i.e. matches should be between the bottom of the glass and the surface of the table )?

Answer

Three matches are laid out on the table in the form of a triangle, as seen below in the figure. The larger the triangle, the closer the bottom of the glass will be to the table and vice versa.

13) Move two matches to make four squares.

14) Think about it, is it possible to lift as many as 15 matches with one match? How can I do that?

15) Move 4 matches to make 15 squares.

16) How to make seven triangles with the help of nine matches, the ends of the matches can be fastened with plasticine, i.e. get a 3D model.

What riddles with matches we did not invent at school! Or maybe they didn’t invent it themselves, but just guessed to their friends what they themselves learned? Is it really that important, after all? 🙂

Another thing is important: puzzles with matches have always been one of our favorite hobbies. It is now that matches have become largely anachronistic. And in our time, they could easily be stolen from any kitchen. 🙂 So we had fun.

Today, when I am already an adult, I nevertheless recall all these activities with great pleasure. And with the same pleasure I publish riddles with matches for you.

Riddles with matches with answers

1. How can you fold a triangle with one match without breaking it:

Answer. The condition does not say: “only one match”, which means that you can use some improvised means, for example, the corner of the table. Attaching a match to it, we get - a triangle.

2. How to fold a quadrangle using two matches?

Answer. Attach two matches parallel to the sides of the corner of the table.

3. Move one match in this fraction to get one.

Answer. This fraction is equal to 1/7. We apply the match on the far right from above to the Roman five on the right. We get the square root of unity in the denominator, which is equal to one. We get: 1/1=1.

4. You can make a square out of four matches. Therefore, to add five squares, twenty matches are required. You can add five squares with sixteen matches. And you try to add five squares of nine matches. (Note: matches may not be completely included in the square.)

Answer.

5. The figure shows a fortress and a stone wall around it. Between the fortress and the wall is a moat filled with water, with hungry crocodiles in it. Show how, with the help of two matches, you can build a bridge between the fortress and the wall.

Answer.

6. In the figure, with the help of 15.5 matches, a sad pig is laid out.

Make it fun by moving 3.5 matches.

Make the pig curious by removing one match and moving 2.5 matches.

Answer 1. Cheerful pig.

Answer 2. Curious pig.

7. In the wrong equality, folded with matches, move only one match to get the correct equality.

Wrong equality.

Answer. True equality.

9. Move three matches in this figure so that the fish swims in the opposite direction.

Answer.

10. A cow with a head, a body, four limbs, horns and a tail is made of matches. It is required to move 2 matches so that the cow does not look to the left, but to the right.

Answer

11. Move in this figure a) three matches; b) two matches in such a way that two rectangles are obtained.

Answer

12. Incorrect equalities are made from matches using Roman numerals. Move just one match to get the correct equalities.

a) XI - V = IV;

Answer.

a) X - VI \u003d IV or XI - V \u003d VI or XI - VI \u003d V - only three solutions.

b) IX - V = IV or X - VI = IV - two solutions.

13. Riddles are jokes.

a) The son argued with his father that if you add eight to five, you can get one. And he won the argument. How did he do it?

Answer. With the help of five and eight matches, he laid out the word "one".

b) In this cross, laid out of matches, rearrange only one match to make a square.

Answer.

Why is a quadruple not a square? After all, it is equal to the square of two. 🙂

fourteen). Of the eighteen matches, six equal squares are folded.

If you remove two matches, you can get four such squares. How can I do that?

Answer

fifteen). A glass is made up of four matches. There is a cherry inside the glass. You need to move two matches so that the berry is outside.

Answer

sixteen). The house is made of matches. It is necessary to shift two matches in it in such a way as to obtain its mirror image.

Answer

17). Arrange 3 matches in this grid in such a way that three squares are formed.

Answer

18 We have a snake made of matches. Rearrange five matches so that two squares of different sizes are obtained from it.

Answer. The problem has two solutions.

Solution 1

Solution 2.

19 Rearrange two matches so that you get five identical squares.

Answer

20 In this four squares, move four matches so that three squares are formed.

Answer

21 This spiral is made up of matches.

Task 1. Move two matches in spirals to make two squares.

Task 2. Move four matches in spirals to make three squares.

Answer to problem 1.

Answer to problem 2.

22 Place three matches on the table.

Put two more matches to them so that you get eight.

Answer. From two matches we add the Roman numeral V, we get: VIII - eight.

23 From matches they folded a figure that looks like a children's toy "roly-poly".

You need to shift three matches so that this tumbler turns into a cube.

Answer

24 Rearrange only one matchstick of the left side of the incorrect equality to get the correct equality.

Answer

25 A beetle is made of matches, which crawls to the right. Move three matches in such a way that the beetle crawls to the left.

Answer

26 This incorrect inequality was compiled using 25 matches.

It is necessary to shift two matches so that the correct equality is obtained.

Answer We add two matches that make up the right unit to the two and get the figure eight. The resulting correct equality will take the form: 16 - 8 = 8.

27 It is necessary to shift one match so that the wrong equality turns into the right one.

Answer 9+3 – 4=8

28 In this incorrect equality, it is necessary to shift one match to get the correct equality.

Answer We apply the right match of the left side from above to the right side of the Roman five, we get the sign of the square root. On the left, we get the square root of unity, which is equal to one. We have the correct equality: 1 = 1.

29 Correct this incorrect equality without touching any match. Make this equality true. (Matches must not be set on fire, moved, moved, etc.)

Answer

It is enough to turn the picture 180 degrees. We get the correct equality.