21
$\begingroup$

During lock-down I was feeling a bit lost for something to do, so one one day I sent Ernie a text reading "Bored".

He responded with a text-less message and an attached image (see below).

I wasn't sure what it meant so I sent "?", to which he responded "It's a puzzle!".

It still wasn't obvious what I was meant to do, so I sent "??", and he responded "Might need scissors, sellotape, a scalpel and a straight edge". As I was digesting that, he added "...or maybe tin-snips, drills, solder and a vice (depending on the materials you have in stock)".

So I printed the image, pasted it to card and cut out the pieces. Then spent quite some time try to solve it. After getting nowhere for a few days I sent him another message "???", to which he immediately replied "Good grief - there are only ten pieces - It can't be that hard!".

I have tried again off and on, but I'm still getting nowhere so thought I would ask for your help before I try and ask Ernie for any more hints. Any idea how to 'solve' the puzzle. Just what am I supposed to make with the pieces and how will I know when I have succeeded?

enter image description here

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
3
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ I think I know the answer and how to solve this, but unfortunately I don't have much time to roll it. Very nice puzzle! :) $\endgroup$
    – athin
    Commented Sep 14, 2020 at 0:24
  • $\begingroup$ I think you mean "vise", not "vice". :) $\endgroup$
    – Almo
    Commented Sep 15, 2020 at 15:45
  • $\begingroup$ I'm never sure exactly what Ernie means. But good find. $\endgroup$
    – Penguino
    Commented Sep 15, 2020 at 21:23

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
29
$\begingroup$

Ernie's jigsaw puzzle isn't as straightforward as it seems, as it's actually:

a jigsaw puzzle for the net of a die.

One way of assembling the pieces legally is:

enter image description here

This can then be folded into a three-dimensional cube along the bold lines shown. (Additional thin-lined squares also provided to aid perceiving it in its fully folded state.)

How will you know when you have succeeded?

When you can actually use it to play one of your favourite board games!

enter image description here

PS Ernie definitely has a sense of humour about him. After all, when you texted him with "Bored", he replied...

...with something for a board game! (pun)

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Nail, head, hit... $\endgroup$
    – Penguino
    Commented Sep 14, 2020 at 21:18

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.