Questions tagged [proof-without-words]
A puzzle asking about a proof (usually mathematical) expressed with diagrams and without words.
12 questions
5
votes
1
answer
937
views
What does this prove?
Unfortunately, this image is too big for me to provide a transcription.
Hint:
Additional hint:
Last hint:
Hint:
Hint:
Since the hint is given, a viable solution must explain how it works.
- 3,223
9
votes
2
answers
235
views
A constant gaze
What this infinite spiral seems to be gazing at goes without saying.
Yet, to go on and on heedlessly as if trying to prove something,
let’s just say
it represents an equality with a well-known ...
- 22k
20
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Four buttons on a table
I was asked lately (in an interview) to solve this puzzle, which is similar to the 4 cups on table puzzle.
In a certain room there is a rotating round table, with 4 symmetrically located ...
- 335
7
votes
1
answer
216
views
Proof by induction without words
This seems more like a proof about induction
than a proof by induction.
But what is this proof really about?
That is, what circuit with an inductance of 4 henries between A and B
does that ...
- 22k
9
votes
2
answers
493
views
A big logical mess
I found a drawing under a stack of books in my house. It looked like a logical circuit diagram, so I decided to make it. I assumed that I was allowed to put anything in the boxes with the question ...
- 22.1k
7
votes
1
answer
663
views
There oughta be a law without words
There really
oughta
be a law.
There really is!
$\require{begingroup}\begingroup \small\sf
\def \& { & \kern-.5em = \kern-.5em & }
\def \l #1 / #2 { \log \frac {\normalsize #1} {...
- 22k
5
votes
1
answer
213
views
A strange traffic light
I saw a mysterious picture on an electronic whiteboard in a school I was walking past. I couldn't hear what the teacher was saying, but I could see on the timetable that it said 'Maths'. Can you work ...
- 22.1k
7
votes
1
answer
190
views
Proof without curves
Say, what’s that in the distance?
Could be a road full of cars
or a wire full of electricity,
or whatnot,
but this much is for sure:
It is straight and infinitely ...
- 22k
11
votes
4
answers
1k
views
A line in Connect Four
When I was young, I was playing with a friend. Of course, the topic soon turned to mathematics (as it always does), and we got into an argument over something. We went on for some time, then he got ...
- 22.1k
12
votes
2
answers
884
views
What the L are they trying to prove?
Seems some L
t rominoes
have developed a punk attitude
and feel they have something to prove
because people always play with dominoes instead.
They are even jealous of I trominoes,
who ...
- 22k
6
votes
1
answer
385
views
Some day in the park with Fiqo
“Awwwwhat a cute little diagram,”
the stranger said,
“what’s its name?”
“Fi qo.
(A ...
- 22k
26
votes
12
answers
4k
views
Tiling a Hexagon with Diamonds
A regular hexagon is divided into a triangular grid, and completely tiled with diamonds (two triangles glued together). Diamonds can be placed in one of three orientations. Prove that, no matter how ...
- 32.8k