Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/207 - Six Straight Fences/Solution

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $207$

Six Straight Fences

A man had a small plantation of $36$ trees, planted in the form of a square.

Some of these died, and had to be cut down in the positions indicated by crosses in the diagram.

How is it possible to put up $6$ straight fences across the field,

so that every one of the remaining $20$ trees shall be in a separate enclosure?

As a matter of fact, $22$ trees might be so enclosed by $6$ straight fences if their positions were a little more accommodating,

but we have to deal with the trees as they stand in regular formation, which makes all the difference.

Solution

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Solutions: $207$. -- Six Straight Fences
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Answers: $301$. Six Straight Fences