# Very hard puzzle, enjoy. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 17, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760 "2006-03-17T15:56:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760/81 "2006-03-20T22:55:00Z")
I’ve been given permission by Samclem to post a link to my website. So, in response to those who have requested, I’ll provide the link. I don’t make bolts in bits of wood or put weird things in bottles, but I know the people who make these sorts of things and / or collect them and study them. I myself just make a range of folded playing cards, some of which have an ‘impossible’ or counter-intuitive flavour to them. There are two types (folded / linked) and you can read about them, and see a gallery of designs, here: [http://www.ianrowland.com/WowCards/WowCardsPage1.html](http://www.ianrowland.com/WowCards/WowCardsPage1.html) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760/82 "2006-03-20T23:21:54Z")
> [@A.R. Cane](#): > > Read the problems again, just as written, and don’t assume anything. If it doesn’t become clear I’ll elaborate further. Ok, if you don’t assume the pie pieces have to be equal, then one of the first cuts could have been halving it?? And four out of the six coins can be lain in one line, picked up and then lain in another completely separate line? I think I am missing something… ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760/83 "2006-03-20T23:35:17Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Ok, if you don’t assume the pie pieces have to be equal, then one of the first cuts could have been halving it?? > > And four out of the six coins can be lain in one line, picked up and then lain in another completely separate line? > > I think I am missing something… Correct on the pie. With the coins, using five coins form a cross, i.e.: one coin in the center w/ 4 coins surrounding it at equal intervals, 12-3-6-9. Now place the sixth coin on top of the center coin. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760/84 "2006-03-20T23:39:54Z")
> [@A.R. Cane](#): > > Correct on the pie. With the coins, using five coins form a cross, i.e.: one coin in the center w/ 4 coins surrounding it at equal intervals, 12-3-6-9. Now place the sixth coin on top of the center coin. Why don’t you just make three coins form a fat “L” and place three coins on top of the middle one? ---
**Author:** ![lynne-42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lynne-42/32/3138_2.png) [@lynne-42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynne-42)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760/85 "2006-03-21T00:02:56Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > I myself just make a range of folded playing cards, some of which have an ‘impossible’ or counter-intuitive flavour to them. > > There are two types (folded / linked) and you can read about them, and see a gallery of designs, here: > > [http://www.ianrowland.com/WowCards/WowCardsPage1.html](http://www.ianrowland.com/WowCards/WowCardsPage1.html) I have eight Wow! cards in a display in our living room, way over here in Australia. They never fail to cause amazement. They are so beautiful as well as totally baffling. Even non-puzzle geeks (sadly there are some such people) find them intriguing. Lynne ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760/86 "2006-03-21T00:31:08Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Why don’t you just make three coins form a fat “L” and place three coins on top of the middle one? That could work. Point is to pay close attention to the parameters and don’t assume. Most people assume that “divide” implies equal segments, which of course, it does not. With the coins, they assume that you can’t count a coin twice and usually don’t think of stacking them. There are many puzzling situations that are similar, I suspect that Jessica Rabbit’s puzzle employs some of this self deception. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760/87 "2006-03-21T02:50:16Z")
Back to the original object, I’d like to submit that the dent is made by a bench vise or C-clamp, which was used to grab the end piece while bending the whole object (after soaking or steaming). That would allow you to drill the center teeth and put in the bolt or pencil. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760/88 "2006-03-21T03:56:27Z")
**magellan01**. Really simple. Don’t imply that someone is a jerk in GQ. And don’t imply that someone is an asshat in GQ. If you have a problem with a post(er), there’s this little triangle thingy in the upper right hand corner, etc. etc. “Given the forum” you responded inappropriately. This ain’t a big deal. You’re not on the “list of posters to be executed” or anything. Things just work smoother if you follow the basics. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760/89 "2015-01-12T01:54:31Z")
[A video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEATei2wewY) is worth a thousand descriptions. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Joker_and_the_Thief)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760/90 "2015-01-12T02:12:18Z")
But was it worth bumping a nine-year old thread? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760/91 "2015-01-12T03:25:53Z")
Sure, why not? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-hard-puzzle-enjoy/348760.md?page=4)