MS LAW CLASSES
Email: wlaw@vsb.bc.ca
  • Home
  • Math 9
    • Math 9 Syllabus
  • Math 10
    • Math 10 Syllabus
  • Puzzles
  • Numeracy Tasks
  • Contact

Puzzle 7: Collating the Coins

Picture
NOTE: Coins are touching

The problem is to change their positions to those shown at the end in 4 moves.  A move consists of placing the tip of the 1st and 2nd fingers on any 2 touching coins, always of different colour, then sliding the pair to another spot along the imaginary line.  The 2 coins must be touching at all times.  Left coin on the left, right coin on the right.  Gaps allowed at the end of a move except the final one.  After the last move, the coins need not necessarily be at the same spot on the imaginary line that the occupied at the start.

Extension: Using 8 chips, complete the same puzzle with the same rules except moving pairs of same colour chips is allowed.
Picture