Today’s puzzle is a classic – one of the most celebrated, perhaps, of all time. Rearrange the four pieces to make a T. The pieces cannot overlap and must fit into the given template. Flipping pieces is allowed. The challenge looks easy, but many people find it surprisingly difficult.
In one academic study from 1997, the T-puzzle was given to five undergraduates. The fastest solved it in 2 minutes 20 seconds and the next fastest in 9 minutes 13 seconds. The other three were unable to solve it within 15 minutes, at which point they were all given a hint, and they solved it shortly after that.
Reader Phoebe Fletcher, a game developer, has designed an interactive version. You can move the pieces with your thumb or mouse and rotate them by clicking or pressing the buttons. The third button is for flips. The interactive puzzle also has a timer, which stops when the puzzle is solved. Data will be collected on how long people take to get the solutions, and results will be presented in a new post at 5pm UK today – with the solution for those still scratching their heads.
If you prefer a physical version of the puzzle, click here for a printable pdf from which you can cut out the four pieces. Tiling puzzles were popular in the 19th century and the T-puzzle, with only four pieces, was one of the best-known. It was widely disseminated by companies who handed out paper versions as giveaways, and also sold commercially as a wooden toy.
