Join the Dots

Solution

Did you work out the answer? Here it is. Many people who try to solve this problem start with the assumption that the lines must be inside the square formed by the dots. But this was never stated in the original problem. If you began with this assumption, solving the problem requires consciously discarding the assumption. The hint provided deliberately puts the problem in a context which encourages you to drop the assumption. If you solved the problem without the hint, congratulations on your open-mindedness! If you solved the problem after seeing the hint, congratulations on your flexibility in questioning your initial assumptions. If you didn't solve the problem at all, congratulations on trying anyway. (You did try, didn't you?)

So this is the second mind game lesson:

Now, in light of the first mind game lesson (There is always more than one right answer), explore some other ways to solve the Join the Dots problem, such as folding the paper so the dots are closer together!

To visit the origin of this and other mind game lessons see:

www.gihanperera.com/mindgames/lessons.html