Move Two Matches
![Move 2 Matches](http://tanyakhovanova.com/BlogStuff/ThinkingOutsideTheBox/Move2Matches2Get2SquaresSm.png)
This puzzle was in a homework assignment I gave to my students.
Puzzle. In the given configuration of matches, move two matches to form three squares.
I assume that the intended solution is the one below. Its appeal is that it has three squares of the same size and no dangling matches.
![Solution 1](http://tanyakhovanova.com/BlogStuff/Geometry/MatchesSolution1.png)
As usual, my students were inventive and suggested many alternative solutions.
- The first picture shows a solution with three squares of different sizes: two small ones and one twice as big.
- The next solution has two big squares and one smaller one.
- The following picture shows three squares of different sizes.
- Since the problem doesn’t forbid forming more than three squares, there are, of course, many solutions with more than three squares. The last picture has six squares.
![Solution 2](http://tanyakhovanova.com/BlogStuff/Geometry/MatchesSolution2.png)
![Solution 3](http://tanyakhovanova.com/BlogStuff/Geometry/MatchesSolution3.png)
![Solution 4](http://tanyakhovanova.com/BlogStuff/Geometry/MatchesSolution4.png)
![Solution 5](http://tanyakhovanova.com/BlogStuff/Geometry/MatchesSolution5.png)
A Facebook Challenge
Share:![Share on Facebook Facebook](https://blog.tanyakhovanova.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/48x48/facebook.png)
![Share on Twitter twitter](https://blog.tanyakhovanova.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/48x48/twitter.png)
![Share on Reddit reddit](https://blog.tanyakhovanova.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/48x48/reddit.png)
![Pin it with Pinterest pinterest](https://blog.tanyakhovanova.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/48x48/pinterest.png)
![Share on Linkedin linkedin](https://blog.tanyakhovanova.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/48x48/linkedin.png)
![Share by email mail](https://blog.tanyakhovanova.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/48x48/mail.png)
Hari:
Apologies for asking, but what is the initial configuration again? It seems to have only 9 matches in the image shown
13 February 2023, 10:49 amtanyakh:
Hari,
The initial configuration is at the top and has 9 matches.
13 February 2023, 11:34 am