Static Challenge (Puzzles)

STATIC CHALLENGE (PUZZLES)

Pentominoes puzzle	TW
Rhombix puzzle	TW
Izzi puzzle	TW
puzzles - various wooden, wire, etc.	TW
Puzzles - DIY copies	TW
Puzzle Craft - Coffin book	TW
Puzzles in Wood - Wyatt DIY book	TW
wooden puzzles c1890	wooden puzzles c1890, some named in Hoffman’s “Puzzles Old and New”	Puzzles/opie8
Quad Rhom	$10 Designer Dr. Marvin Solit, an osteopathic physician, is the founder and principal of Rhombics and Foundation for New Directions, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Both enterprises reflect his lifelong interest in primary structures and relationships. - SeeTouchThink, http://www.seetouchthink.com/ - Rhombics’ products include intricate puzzles (Roma, Pyrra, Dodeca, Vexa); some with magnets (Quadrom, QuantumKnot, Turnabout); building blocks and games for children and adults (Rhomblocks, Cube-Tac-Toe); lamps and desk sculptures.	QD-lg.jpg, QD.pb2.lo.jpg
Magnetic Rhombus Puzzle [aka Vexahedron]	http://www.cleverwood.com/magnetic_rhombus.htm The challenge of this unusual classic puzzle is to assemble the 8 little rhombohedrons into the big rhombohedron. Its much more difficult than it would appear, and its a challenge every time you try it. Each puzzle contains 24 magnets, 3 in each piece. Not only must you recreate the original shape, but it also must be in the checkerboard pattern, and all the magnets must be hidden inside. Children also use the pieces as free-form magnetic sculpture blocks. Made of solid hardwoods, and finished with a durable clear finish, this popular puzzle feels as good as it looks. Some people say just holding and petting it has a tranquilizing effect! Natural maple and walnut hardwood. 2¾” x 2¾” x 2¾” (This puzzle was first made by Design Science Toys and is [no longer?] sold as a “Vexahedron” The Cleverwood version is made with the permission of the inventor.) [but google for “vexahedron” didn’t turn up the DS version... I know I’ve seen something like this, however, maybe a knockoff with or without the inventor’s permission]
Dogic	Dogic - described at http://www.geocities.com/jaapsch/puzzles/dogic.htm - Jaap’s Puzzle Pages, with very large number of puzzles illustrated, described, solutions, even w/ Java versions. This beautiful puzzle has the shape if a regular icosahedron. Its 20 triangular faces are divided into 4 regular triangles. There are two types of moves: Twisting the 5 complete faces meeting to a vertex (face twist), or the 5 small triangles at a vertex (tip twist). When the puzzle is solved, each vertex has 5 triangles of the same colour. The central traingles of each face have three colours, and these should match the adjacent triangles. I have taken mine apart to see how it worked, and found that it is made of an amazing number of parts. There are 60 vertex triangles, 20 central triangles each with 3 inlaid coloured parts, 60 internal pieces to keep the vertex triangles together, 30 internal pieces to keep the central triangles together, a central piece with twelve axes each with two rotating parts and a screw. This gives an incredible 267 pieces (or 194 moving parts). This puzzle was patented by Zoltan and Robert Vecsei in Hungary on 20 October 1993 (HU214709), and the patent was granted nearly 5 years later on 28 July 1998. Scrambled Dogic in mid-twist from http://www.chrisandkori.com/fw/main/default.asp?DocID=1419	dogic.jpg dogictwist1.jpg
Megaminx	Megaminx in mid-twist from http://www.chrisandkori.com/fw/main/default.asp?DocID=1419	megaminxtwist1.jpg
Alexander’s Star	Alexander’s Star in mid-twist from http://www.chrisandkori.com/fw/main/default.asp?DocID=1419	alexscramble.jpg
Exploring Math Through Puzzles Construction Kit	EMTP Construction Kit $36 EXPLORING MATH THROUGH PUZZLES - $18 [by Key Curriculum Press] Engage your students and their critical thinking skills with this exciting book of puzzles. This best-selling copymaster set contains step-by-step instructions for making 54 puzzles, designed to be solvable by novices, out of string, beads, and other common household items. The mathematical principles behind the mechanical puzzles are also discussed. Students at all levels will be fascinated by the counting principles and topological ideas introduced. Geometry teachers will appreciate the puzzles’ strong links to three-dimensional visualization. Pre-Algebra and Algebra teachers will want to give these puzzles to their students for the problem-solving experience. Students will enjoy creating the puzzles and have even more fun challenging their classmates to solve them. http://www.mathteacherstore.com	emtpkit200.jpg
Stardust Polyhedron Kits	http://www.queenhill.demon.co.uk/stardust/ Stardust Polyhedron Kits [on Joe Moore list] - Stardust, Park View, Queenhill, Upton-on-Severn, Worcs, WR8 0RE, England Whether you love puzzles, the beauty of mathematics, or just making things, we hope you will find endless pleasure in our polyhedron kits. Covering a range of ideas and abilities, they are designed for ease of assembly, come with full instructions, and are printed on high-quality card. Many of the puzzles are unique to Stardust and were invented by Guy Inchbald. Build the pieces, solve the puzzle, and you will gain both great satisfaction and a unique collector’s item. The puzzles are made with extra-thick card for long life, and come with full solutions. The space-filling sets are both fascinating and educational. They come on plain white card, suitable for colouring or photocopying (but we recommend a really good copier), and make great class activities. With care, you can achieve some really beautiful displays. [Sound somewhat interesting and cheap, e.g. Egyptian Pyramid for GBP 2.00, Heartstar, Soma Cube, Stella Octangula
The Three Cubes Cube	threecubescuberg.jpg (small) - The Three Cubes Cube: This ingenious puzzle has pieces that are shaped so that they fit together either to make three separate cubes of sides, three, four and five units, or to make a single large cube of side 6 units. It is a demonstration in solid form that three cubed plus four cubed plus five cubed equals six cubed. £8.70 - Tarquin Publications. UK www.tarquin.com	threecubescuberg.jpg
Martin Gardner books	TW

Simon	Milton Bradley, 1978 - illus Vermont p76
Bop-It