U of T math professor emeritus Ed Barbeau is able to produce this object using only a pair of scissors and one rectangular piece of paper. If you believe that only one side of the sheet faces up, look again.
This is one of many puzzles that Barbeau used to present to his math class for non-math students – often with great results. “Being good at math doesn’t necessarily make you good at puzzles,” says Barbeau. “In fact, English students scored very highly on [my puzzles] because they approach math in a non-standard way.”
Find more mathematical challenges in Barbeau’s book After Math: Puzzles and Brainteasers (Wall & Emerson, 1995).
Recent Posts
Is the U.S. Entering a New Era of Instability?
Donald Trump aside, political polarization and growing authoritarianism have huge implications for America – and Canada
People Worry That AI Will Replace Workers. But It Could Make Some More Productive
These scholars say artificial intelligence could help reduce income inequality
A Sentinel for Global Health
AI is promising a better – and faster – way to monitor the world for emerging medical threats