Class 4 Math Puzzle
Move two matchsticks to make 4 triangles
First see the starting figure, then try the interactive puzzle. The trick is to stop thinking flat and imagine the sticks folding into a 3D shape.
Interactive Puzzle
Click the 2 glowing sticks
Click a glowing stick to move it into place.
Click stick 1 and stick 2. Each one jumps into the correct position.
Answer: make a triangular pyramid
The 4 triangles appear when the puzzle is viewed in 3D as a tetrahedron. The two moved sticks help complete the pyramid.
Second Puzzle
Remove 4 matchsticks to leave only 3 triangles
Click the 4 glowing sticks to remove them.
Click the glowing sticks to remove them. When 4 are gone, only 3 triangles should remain.
Answer: 3 triangles left
Remove the 4 highlighted sticks. The faded lines disappear, and the remaining figure clearly leaves only 3 triangles.
Third Puzzle
Use 5 matchsticks to make 2 triangles
First count the 5 matchsticks, then click show answer.
Answer: 2 triangles sharing one side
With 5 matchsticks, two small triangles can be made by sharing the middle side.