Toothpick Puzzles

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The problems given below may be performed with burnt matches or toothpicks.

1. Take 11 toothpicks and place them so as to make 9 of them.
2. Arrange 15 so as to form 5 squares of equal size and then remove three sticks so as to leave only 3 instead of the 5 squares.
3. Take 9 sticks and place them so as to make 3 dozen of them.
4. Take 3 sticks and place them so as to make 4 of them.
5. Place 3 sticks in such a position that they will make 6.
6. Arrange 17 sticks on the table so as to make 6 squares and then by taking away 5 sticks, leave 3 squares only.
7. Arrange 12 sticks on the table so as to make 4 squares, then after removing 4 sticks place them so as to make 3 squares of the same size as the first squares.
8. Arrange 17 sticks on the table so as to form 6 squares and then take away 6 sticks so as to leave only 2 squares remaining.

These problems may look simple, but you will find that it takes a little thought to find the correct solutions. Anyone who solves the problems will not find it difficult to think up other and similar ones with which to puzzle his friends. You may not just be from High School, to had played this puzzle. This puzzle was popular among us when we were teenagers in school in Bandar Hilir and High School.