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Puzzle

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	Topics Puzzle Topic Home A puzzle is a problemFacts About Problem In general, problem is a mental obstacle which makes impossible the achieving a goal/objective/purpose.... or enigmaEnigma An enigma is a puzzle or mystery. The word comes from the Greek word, a????a.... that challenges ingenuityIngenuity The term ingenuity or applied ideas is used in the analysis of Thomas Homer-Dixon, building on that of Paul Michael R... . In a basic puzzle one is intended to piece together objects in a logical way in order to come up with the desired shape, picture or solution. Puzzles are often contrived as a form of entertainment, but they can also stem from serious mathematical or logistical problems — in such cases, their successful resolution can be a significant contribution to mathematical researchResearch Overview Research is often described as an active, diligent, and systematic process of inquiry aimed at discovering, interpreting, an... . Solutions to puzzles may require recognizing patternPattern A pattern is a form, template, or model which can be used to make or to generate things or parts of a thing, especially if t... s and creating a particular order. People with a high inductive reasoning aptitudeInductive reasoning aptitude Inductive reasoning is a measurable aptitude for how well a person can identify a pattern within a large amount of data.... may be better at solving these puzzles than others. Puzzles based on the process of inquiryInquiry Inquiry is any proceeding or process that has the aim of augmenting knowledge, resolving doubt, or solving a problem.... and discovery to complete may be solved faster by those with good deductionDeduction Deduction can refer to:* Deductive reasoning, inference in which the conclusion is of no greater generality than the premis... skills. History The first jigsaw puzzle was made around 1760, when John SpilsburyFacts About John Spilsbury John Spilsbury is a name shared by a number of people:... , a British engraver and mapmaker, mounted a map on a sheet of wood that he then sawed around each individual country. Spilsbury used the product to aid in teaching geography. After catching on with the wider public, this remained the primary use of jigsaw puzzles until about 1820. In the early 1900s, magazines and newspapers found that they could increase their daily subscriptions by publishing puzzle contests. Contemporary puzzles A sample of notable puzzle authors includes Sam LoydSam Loyd Samuel Loyd , born in Philadelphia and raised in New York, was an American puzzle author and recreational mathematician.... , Henry DudeneyHenry Dudeney Henry Ernest Dudeney was an English author and mathematician who specialised in logic puzzles and mathematical games.... , Boris Kordemsky and, more recently, David J. BodycombeDavid J. Bodycombe David J. Bodycombe is a puzzle author and games consultant working in the UK, mainly on television and radio game shows, in ... , Will ShortzWill Shortz Will Shortz is a U.S. puzzle creator and editor.... and Martin GardnerMartin Gardner Martin Gardner is a popular American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with inte... . There are organizations and events catering puzzle enthusiasts such as the International Puzzle PartyInternational Puzzle Party The International Puzzle Party is an annual meeting of mechanical puzzle enthusiasts to discuss, share, and trade mechanical... , the World Puzzle ChampionshipWorld Puzzle Championship The World Puzzle Championship is an annual international puzzle competition run by the World Puzzle Federation.... and the National Puzzlers' LeagueNational Puzzlers' League The National Puzzlers' League is a nonprofit organization focused on puzzling, primarily in the realm of word play and word ... . There are also Puzzlehunts like Maze of GamesMaze of Games The Maze of Games is one of America's largest annual puzzlehunts, and is held at the Gen Con and Origins gaming conventions.... . The Rubik's CubeRubik's Cube Rubik's Cube or Rubix Cube is a mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by the Hungarian sculptor and professor of architec... and other magic polyhedronMagic polyhedron Magic polyhedron is a term for a specific type of puzzle also known as twisty puzzles, the most popular of which is Ru... s are toyToy A toy is something used in play by children, adults or pets.... s based on puzzles that can be stimulating toys for kids and are a recreational activity for adults. Puzzles can be used to hide or obscure objects. A good example is a puzzle boxPuzzle box Puzzle boxes have a long tradition.... used to hide jewelry. GameGame A game is a structured or semi-structured, contrived , usually undertaken for enjoyment, though sports or training simulati... s are often based on a puzzle. For example there are thousands of computer puzzle gameComputer puzzle game Computer puzzle game is a genre of computer games that emphasize puzzle solving.... s and many letter gameLetter game A letter game involves the exchange of written letters, or e-mails, between two or more participants.... s, word gameWord game A word game or word puzzle can be of several different types: ... s and mathematical gameMathematical game Mathematical games include many topics which are a part of recreational mathematics, but can also cover topics such as... s which require solutions to puzzles as part of the gameplay. One of the most popular puzzle games is TetrisTetris *Tetris* is widely known as one of the most popular computer puzzle game of all time .... . In video games, jumping puzzleJumping puzzle Jumping puzzles are sequences in computer and video games, particularly in the genre of platformers, where the player is req... s are common. A chess problemChess problem Overview A chess problem, also called a chess composition, is a puzzle set by somebody using chess pieces on a chess board, tha... is a puzzle that uses chess pieces on a chess board. Types of puzzles The large number of puzzles that have been created can be divided into categories, for example a mazeMaze A maze is a tour puzzle in the form of a complex branching passage through which the solver must find a route.... is a type of tour puzzleTour puzzle In tour puzzles the player of the puzzle makes a trip around a board using a token which represents a traveller.... . Other categories include construction puzzleConstruction puzzle In a construction puzzle you have to built a technical contraption.... s, stick puzzleStick puzzle Stick puzzles use sets of 'polysticks' which have to be assembled into two- or three-dimensional configurations.... s, tiling puzzleTiling puzzle Tiling puzzles use two-dimensional shapes that have to be assembled into a larger given shape without overlaps.... s, transport puzzleTransport puzzle Transport puzzles are logistical puzzles, which often represent real-life transport problems.... s, disentanglement puzzleDisentanglement puzzle A disentanglement puzzle is a type of mechanical puzzle that involves disentangling one piece or set of pieces from another ... s, sliding puzzleSliding puzzle A sliding puzzle, sliding block puzzle, or sliding tile puzzle challenges a player to slide usually flat pieces ... s, logic puzzleLogic puzzle A logic puzzle is a puzzle deriving from the mathematics field of deduction.... s, word puzzles, picture puzzlePicture puzzle Puzzles consisting of a large, single image or pattern broken up in to smaller pieces and scrambled.... s, jigsaw puzzleJigsaw puzzle A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of numerous small, often oddly shaped, interlocking and tesell... s, lock puzzleLock puzzle A lock puzzle is a type of mechanical puzzle.... s, folding puzzleMechanical puzzle A mechanical puzzle is a puzzle presented as a set of mechanically interlinked pieces.... s, combination puzzlesCombination puzzles Combination puzzles, also called sequential move puzzles, consist of a set of pieces which can be manipulated into dif... and mechanical puzzleMechanical puzzle A mechanical puzzle is a puzzle presented as a set of mechanically interlinked pieces.... s. A meta-puzzleMeta-puzzle A meta-puzzle is a puzzle that unites several puzzles that feed into it.... is a puzzle which unites or incorporates elements of other puzzles. It is often found in puzzlehuntPuzzlehunt A puzzlehunt is a live puzzle game where teams compete to solve a series of puzzles in a site or multiple sites.... s. Well-known puzzles AnagramAnagram Summary An anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce other words, using ... s Connect the dotsConnect the dots Connect the dots, also known as dot to dots is a kind of paper puzzle containing a sequence of numbered dots.... CrosswordCrossword The crossword is the most common variety of word puzzle in the world.... Eight queens n-puzzleN-puzzle The n-puzzle is known in various versions, including the 8 puzzle, the 15 puzzle, and with various names.... (a.k.a. Fifteen puzzle) ImpossibleImpossible Puzzle The Impossible Puzzle, also named Sum and Product Puzzle is a puzzle called "impossible" because it seems to lack suf... JigsawJigsaw puzzle A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of numerous small, often oddly shaped, interlocking and tesell... Kakuro Knight's TourKnight's tour Overview The Knight's Tour is a mathematical problem involving a knight on a chessboard.... Missing square puzzleMissing square puzzle The missing square puzzle is an optical illusion used in mathematics classes, to help students reason about geometrical figu... Nonograms (a.k.a. Gridders, Paint by numbers, etc.) Peg solitairePeg solitaire Peg Solitaire is a board game for one player involving movement of pegs on a board with holes.... Puzz-3DPuzz-3D Puzz-3D is a brand of three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles manufactured by Wrebbit, Inc.... Rubik's CubeRubik's Cube Summary Rubik's Cube or Rubix Cube is a mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by the Hungarian sculptor and professor of architec... SangakuSangaku Sangaku or San Gaku are Japanese geometrical puzzles in Euclidean geometry on wooden tablets created during the Edo pe... Seven Bridges of KönigsbergSeven Bridges of Königsberg The Seven Bridges of Knigsberg is a famous solved mathematics problem inspired by an actual place and situation.... SlitherlinkSlitherlink Sorry, no overview for this topic SudokuSudoku , also known as *Number Place* or *Nanpure, is a logic-based placement puzzle.... SokobanSokoban Sokoban* is a transport puzzle in which the player pushes boxes around a maze, viewed from above, and tries to put them ... Soma cubeSoma cube The Soma cube is a solid dissection puzzle invented by Piet Hein during a lecture on quantum mechanics by Werner Heisenberg.... Spot the differenceSpot the difference Summary Spot the difference is a name given to a puzzle where two versions of an image are shown side by side, and the player has to... TangramTangram Tangram is a Chinese puzzle, and a type of dissection puzzle.... Water, gas, and electricity Three cups problemThree cups problem The three cups problem is a mathematical puzzle.... Tower of HanoiTower of Hanoi The Tower of Hanoi or Towers of Hanoi is a mathematical game or puzzle.... Etymology The 1989 edition of the Oxford English DictionaryOxford English Dictionary *The Oxford English Dictionary* is a dictionary published by the Oxford University Press , and is generally regarded as t... dates the word puzzle (as a verbVerb A verb is a part of speech that usually denotes action , occurrence , or a state of being .... ) to the end of the 16th century16th century As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600.... . That first documented use comes from a book called The Voyage of Robert DudleyRobert Dudley, styled Earl of Warwick Robert Dudley was originally illegitimate son of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester.... ...to the West Indies, 1594-95, narrated by Capt. Wyatt, by himself, and by Abram Kendall, master (published circa 1595). Their research, based on the "chronology of the words, and still more the consideration of their sense-history, seem[s] to make it clear that the verb came first, and that the noun was its derivative." Related categories See also List of puzzle topicsList of puzzle topics This is a list of puzzle topics, by Wikipedia page.... List of impossible puzzlesList of impossible puzzles Summary This is a list of puzzles which have been proven impossible.... List of puzzle-based computer and video gamesList of puzzle-based computer and video games This is a partial list of puzzle-based computer games and video games, sorted by general category.... Brain teaserBrain teaser A Brain teaser is a form of puzzle that involves a lot of thinking.... DilemmaDilemma The dilemma is sometimes used as a rhetorical device, in the form "you must accept either A, or B"; here A and B would be proposit... Optical illusionOptical illusion An optical illusion characterized by visually perceived images that, at least in common sense terms, are deceptive or mislea... ParadoxParadox A paradox is an apparently true statement or group of statements that leads to a contradiction or a situation which defies ... RiddleRiddle A riddle is a form of word puzzle designed to test someone's ingenuity and lateral thinking in arriving at a solution.... External links Presented by the Lilly Library of Indiana University.