Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/338 - The Three Matches/Solution

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $338$

The Three Matches

Can you place $3$ matches on the table, and support the matchbox on them,

without allowing the heads of the matches to touch the table, to touch one another, or to touch the box?

Solution

Arrange the three matches as shown in the diagram, and stand the box on end in the centre.

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Solutions: $338$. -- The Three Matches
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Answers: $505$. The Three Matches