Arrange matchsticks so that

Question

Your challenge is to arrange matchsticks to make a pattern. Matchsticks are all the same length and cannot be broken.

These are geometric arrangements:

1. Make 4 triangles using 6 sticks.
2. Make 3 X's using 3 sticks.
3. Make 14 squares using 8 sticks.

These are arrangements derived from symbols implied in the question:

4. Make a pound using 4 sticks.
5. Make a knife using 3 sticks.
6. Make a dessert using 3 sticks.
7. Most of air is 3 sticks.
8. Stop with 2; continue with 3.
9. 2 sticks is big; flipped, is small.

Hint for number 5:

Can you think of a symbol whose name is a synonym for knife?

Answer 1

1:

Arrange them in a tetrahedron. Each face is a triangle.

2:

Arrange them in three dimensions so that all three are perpendicular and touch at the middle. Each pair makes an X.

3:

Make a square with four matchsticks. Divide it into thirds horizontally and vertically, producing a 3x3 grid of squares: 9 small squares, 4 medium squares, and 1 large square.

4:

Make a # (pound) sign.

5:

Make a † (dagger) sign. (Idea from @dan04.)

6:

Make π (pi/pie).

7:

Make a letter N. Most of air is nitrogen gas.

8:

A pause button (two lines) and a play button (a triangle).

9:

> (greater than) and < (less than).