Brain Teasers - Free Printable

Matchstick Puzzles - #3

Here are the solutions to each of the matchstick puzzles, along with explanations:

---

#### 1. Move one matchstick to make a square.
- Initial Configuration:
```
| |
| |
| |
```
- Solution:
Move one matchstick from the vertical line on the right to form a square.
```
| |
| |
----
```
- Explanation:
By moving one matchstick horizontally across the bottom, you create a complete square.

---

#### 2. Move six matches to make five squares.
- Initial Configuration:
```
+---+---+
| | |
+---+---+
| |
+---+
```
- Solution:
Rearrange the matches to form a pattern where five squares are created.
```
+---+
| |
+---+---+
| | |
+---+---+
```
- Explanation:
By moving six matches, you can rearrange them into a configuration that forms five squares: four small squares and one larger square encompassing them.

---

#### 3. Move two matchsticks to make six squares.
- Initial Configuration:
```
+---+---+
| | |
+---+---+
| |
+---+
```
- Solution:
Move two matchsticks to create a new arrangement that forms six squares.
```
+---+---+
| | |
+---+---+
| | |
+---+---+
```
- Explanation:
By moving two matchsticks, you can extend the structure to include an additional row of squares, resulting in six squares in total.

---

#### 4. Take one away from seven matchsticks, then move two to leave zero.
- Initial Configuration:
```
||||| ||
```
- Solution:
Remove one matchstick and rearrange the remaining ones to form the number "0".
```
|||||
```
After removing one matchstick, rearrange the remaining six to form:
```
O
```
- Explanation:
Removing one matchstick leaves six matchsticks. By moving two of these matchsticks, you can form the shape of the number "0".

---

#### 5. Take away six matchsticks from the fifteen shown to leave ten.
- Initial Configuration:
```
+---+---+---+
| | | |
+---+---+---+
| | | |
+---+---+---+
```
- Solution:
Remove six matchsticks to leave a configuration that visually represents the number "10".
```
+---+
| |
+---+
| |
+---+
```
- Explanation:
By removing six matchsticks, you can leave behind a structure that resembles the number "10" (a vertical line for "1" and a horizontal line for "0").

---

#### 6. Remove 9 matchsticks leaving no square of any size.
- Initial Configuration:
```
+---+---+---+
| | | |
+---+---+---+
| | | |
+---+---+---+
| | | |
+---+---+---+
```
- Solution:
Remove 9 matchsticks in such a way that no squares remain.
```
+---+---+
| |
+ +
| |
+---+---+
```
- Explanation:
By carefully removing 9 matchsticks, you can break all possible squares in the grid. The remaining structure should not contain any closed shapes that form squares.

---

Final Answers:

1. Move one matchstick to form a square.
2. Rearrange six matches to form five squares.
3. Move two matchsticks to form six squares.
4. Remove one matchstick and rearrange to form "0".
5. Remove six matchsticks to leave a structure resembling "10".
6. Remove 9 matchsticks to ensure no squares remain.

Boxed Final Answer:
\boxed{
\text{Solutions provided above.}
}