Twenty-four matchsticks are used to create a 3 x 3 grid. Can you remove eight matchsticks from the configuration so that you are left with two squares that do not touch each other?
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$\begingroup$ Don't just edit questions to keep them active. $\endgroup$– prog_SAHILJan 17, 2018 at 16:00
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1$\begingroup$ @prog_SAHIL Hi, I edited my post not to keep it active but because I wanted to get the badge for 'First Edit'. I didn't know it wouldn't work and that you have to edit someone else's post. $\endgroup$– user44188Jan 18, 2018 at 11:21
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2 Answers
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The squares needn't be of the same size.
So, keep all the matches forming the border, keep all the matches forming the center-most square, and remove the 8 matches that join the small center square to the large outer square.
In the below illustration, remove the 8 red matches, leaving behind a blue and green square that don't touch, as they're nested:
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$\begingroup$ Sorry, but can you be a bit more clearer what you want to say? $\endgroup$– user44188Jan 16, 2018 at 11:54
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$\begingroup$ Added an image to help illustrate it, @KhushrajRathod $\endgroup$– PhylypJan 16, 2018 at 11:56
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1$\begingroup$ Oops, I was too slow :-) Took me ages to get the formatting right. $\endgroup$ Jan 16, 2018 at 11:59
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1$\begingroup$ "Remove the 8 matches which do not contribute to the outside square or the central square" $\endgroup$ Jan 16, 2018 at 12:57
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$\begingroup$ Yep, that's a cleaner explanation :-) @theonetruepath $\endgroup$– PhylypJan 16, 2018 at 13:01
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Starting from the following $3\times3$ square:
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remove 8 matches to leave the following two disjoint squares (removed matches denoted by dots):
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answered Jan 16, 2018 at 11:59
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$\begingroup$ Correct Answer, But You were a bit late :P $\endgroup$– user44188Sep 12, 2018 at 12:43