Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/183 - Table-Top and Stools/Solution

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $183$

Table-Top and Stools

Some people may be familiar with the old puzzle of the circular table-top cut into pieces to form two oval stools, each with a hand-hole.

Those who remember the puzzle will be interested in a solution in as few as four pieces by the late Sam Loyd.

Can you cut the circle into four pieces that will fit together (two and two) and form two oval stool-tops, each with a hand-hole?

Solution

Figure $A$ shows the circle divided into four equal pieces, forming the Great Monad,

and in Figure $B$ we have two pieces reassembled to form one of the two stools,

the other two being similarly constructed from $3$ and $4$.

Unfortunately the hand-holes are across instead of lengthways,

but no condition is broken.

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Solutions: $183$. -- Table-Top and Stools
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Answers: $349$. Table-Top and Stools