EMAT 6700

by Brad Simmons

Tangrams

Use geometer's sketchpad to help solve tangram puzzles.

The tangram puzzle is composed of seven pieces that form a square, as shown below.

This puzzle has been a popular amusement for Chinese students for hundreds and perhaps thousands of years.

Use geometer's sketchpad to construct the figure above.  Then construct the seven individual pieces that make up the square.  The individual pieces are shown below.

Now rearrange the pieces so they form each figure shown below.

        1.

        2.

        3.

        4.

        5.

        6.

7. Create a different figure using the seven tangram pieces.  Trace the outline.  Then challenge another student to solve the puzzle.

Please click here for a geometer's sketchpad sketch that can be manipulated.

For answers to the puzzles above please click here.

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