# A brain teaser that has me stumped. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 13, 2002, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brain-teaser-that-has-me-stumped/98040 "2002-03-13T11:34:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brain-teaser-that-has-me-stumped/98040/21 "2002-03-14T09:04:29Z")
rsa - thanks, but that’s changing the parameters of the question. Nice solution, though. Thanks to all for finding cites which claim this is not possible, as I (and several of my frustrated colleagues, friends and family members) have come to this conclusion as well. Now to find a suitable punishment for the person who supplied us with this unsolvable puzzle… ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brain-teaser-that-has-me-stumped/98040/22 "2002-03-14T12:04:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pulykamell \* > Now to find a suitable punishment for the person who supplied us with this unsolvable puzzle… Um, hello? The gry question? ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brain-teaser-that-has-me-stumped/98040/23 "2002-03-14T12:29:04Z")
Nothing to add except  \<— They’re available in Character map or hold down ALT and type 0129 at least in windows. You can always ask him “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brain-teaser-that-has-me-stumped/98040/24 "2002-03-14T14:37:33Z")
I was toying around with the cylinder idea also, but still couldn’t make it work. If you guys want to try a series of puzzles that _are_ solvable, check this out: [Reflections](http://www.input-entertainment.de/laser/) ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brain-teaser-that-has-me-stumped/98040/25 "2002-03-14T20:08:48Z")
Not to hijack this completely, but **FlyingDragonFan** , what is the solution to level 28, if you know? I’ve been working at it for months on and off, and can’t even get it WITH the hint… ---
**Author:** ![Anubis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Anubis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anubis)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brain-teaser-that-has-me-stumped/98040/26 "2002-03-14T22:50:14Z")
I did it! I did it! 1 2 3 ▄ ▄ ▄ | | | O O O Make a line from circle 1 to box 3(going above box 1), with another line branching off to box 2 and another branching off to box 1. Then make another line from circle two to box 1 and 3, tow separate lines not going outside the area. Then make a line from circle 3 to box2, not going outside the area. Make one more line going between box 2 and 3 to connect it to the line that branched off three tmies. Viola! All circles are connected to all of the boxes, and on a flat surface. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brain-teaser-that-has-me-stumped/98040/27 "2002-03-14T23:05:11Z")
Sorry **caveman** , 27 and 28 still have me stumped. **Anubis** , I’m don’t think I’m quite following. You’re suggesting that the solution, in essence, is to consider a line that branches as one line? I guess there’s nothing in the initial parameters that would disallow this, but it bothers me aesthetically for some reason. For that matter, you could just draw a circle around the whole construct, then draw a “branch” connecting the circle to each character. Or am I misreading what you’re saying? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brain-teaser-that-has-me-stumped/98040.md?page=1)