3 Answers

The missing square puzzle is an optical illusion used in mathematics classes to help students reason about geometrical figures. It depicts two arrangements made of similar shapes in slightly different configurations. Each apparently forms a 13×5 right-angled triangle, but one has a 1×1 hole in it.

See the rest :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_square_puzzle

11 years ago. Rating: 7
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i think it boils down to basic geometry, if you notice the pieces arn't broken down into squares but rather triangles which could leave room for a decepitve eye..???

11 years ago. Rating: 4
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Here's the answer..  GET IT??? LOL

 

The four figures total 32 units of area. The apparent triangles formed from the figures are 13 units wide and 5 units tall, so it appears that the area should be \textstyle{S=\frac{13 \times 5}{2}=32.5} units. However, the blue triangle has a ratio of 5:2 (=2.5:1), while the red triangle has the ratio 8:3 (≈2.667:1), so the apparent combined hypotenuse in each figure is actually bent. So with the bent hypotenuse, the first figure actually occupies a combined 32 units, while the second figure occupies 33, including the "missing" square.

The amount of bending is approximately 1/28th of a unit (1.245364267°), which is difficult to see on the diagram of this puzzle.

In other words-- It's MAGIC!!  :)

 

11 years ago. Rating: 3
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