The Nine-dot Problem
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Instruction

To solve the nine-dot problem, it is recommended that you follow these  instructions:

  • Print out this page or write down 9 dots on a blank paper
  • Without lifting your pencil from the paper, draw exactly four straight, connected lines that will go through all nine dots, but through each dot only once.
9dots.gif (1251 bytes) 9dots.gif (1251 bytes) 9dots.gif (1251 bytes)
9dots.gif (1251 bytes) 9dots.gif (1251 bytes) 9dots.gif (1251 bytes)
9dots.gif (1251 bytes) 9dots.gif (1251 bytes) 9dots.gif (1251 bytes)

Hint:

  • After you have tried two (2) different ways, ask yourself what restrictions you have set for yourself in solving this problem.

SOLUTION

Copyright © 1999 Reference(s)
  • Field, B.W. (1995).  Mechanical Design Practice, The Beginnings Press, Homesglen School of Writing, Victoria, Australia.
  • Mayer, R.E. (1995). 'The search for Insight: Grappling with Gestalt Psychology’s Unanswered Questions', The Nature of Insights, Edited by Sternberg, R.J., and Davidson, J.E., The MIT Press, UK
  • Noller, R.B., Parnes, S.J.& Biondi, A.M. (1976).  Creative Action Book, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York.
  • Papanek, V. (1985)  Design for the Real World, Thames and Hudson, Great Britain.
  • Papanek, V. (1995).  The Green Imperative, Thames and Hudson, Great Britain.
  • Weisberg, R.W. (1995).  'Prolegomena to theory of insight', The Nature of Insights, Edited by Sternberg, R.J., and Davidson, J.E., The MIT Press, UK.

 


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