Arrange 3 Knives to Rest on Tips of Handles/Variant/Mistake

Source Work

1992: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Puzzles:

The Puzzles:

Henry van Etten

$112$

Mistake

Variants in Victorian puzzle books demanded how three knives might be used to support a drinking glass, in the ample space between three other drinking glasses placed on the table with more than enough space for a fourth glass to be placed on the table between them.

Correction

If you count carefully:

one glass to be balanced

three glasses forming the ample space

you notice that the glass to be placed on the table between them is actually the fifth glass.

Sources

• 1992: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Puzzles ... (previous) ... (next): Henry van Etten: $112$