Rectangle Impossible

This is one of the most expensive puzzles DEFI Jeu makes. Like the Rectangle d’Or, and the Seven Puzzle, this put-together puzzle is made as a luxurious diversion for the mathematically inclined.

Twenty-one pieces, each one different, are used to construct one hundred and ninety-two shapes as depicted by diagrams in the thirty-five page booklet (in French) that comes with this puzzle.

Rectangle Impossible 2.jpg (38441 bytes)

Rectangle Impossible closed.jpg (17054 bytes)

The case itself is solid walnut and crafted to last for generations.

Rectangle Impossible cat.jpg (32467 bytes)

Here’s the official instructions:

“RECTANGLE IMPOSSIBLE” (the Impossible Rectangle) is a new puzzle with which you may build many shapes. The initial idea behind it was to use such seemingly incompatible shapes as the circle and the square, and that is why this puzzle is so original.

Nothing was left to chance in the initial shape (see last page). Each piece of the almost “ perfect ” 7x3 rectangle has been logically designed:
   1) the pieces are designed on a square basis (see page 2 of the original
        problems booklet)
   2) then a line is drawn around the square in order to obtain a circle
   3) the inverted shape from (2) is also kept
   4) this enables one to work with different kinds of lines (with straight or
       curved sides)
Thus we end up with twenty-one “reversible” pieces, as pictured page 2 of the original problems booklet. Because of this logical process, the pieces are all different and the family of pieces is “complete.”

It is impossible (as the name of this puzzle tells you) to obtain a perfect 7x3 rectangle (guess why !), but it is possible to come close to perfection and build many variants, whether you use more straight lines or curved ones (see problems #1 to #30).

The shapes you are challenged to build are drawn on squared paper in order to show their size. Of course, these illustrations don’t give away the actual solutions. For example, one of the possible solutions to problem #1 is the initial shape of the puzzle. The other shapes should be built outside the wooden box using all the pieces.

The difficulty level is indicated for some more difficult problems (see range of difficulty page 35). A solution to the problems marked with an “S” is provided (see pages 31 & 32). The other problems always have at least one solution.

Thanks to the many possible combinations of pieces, you can also build your own shapes, as long as they have the same surface as twenty-one unit squares. Thus all possible shapes have just the same quantity of “hollows” and “bumps.” Pages 33 and 34 are left blank for you to add your own designs.

We wish you much pleasure with the exciting “RECTANGLE IMPOSSIBLE” puzzle!

	Twenty-one unique pieces plus the case
	Put-together Puzzle
	12.5" x 6.25" x 1.75" in the case
	Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult - it could take up to an hour to solve some of the shapes in the booklet
	Packaged in a good quality cardboard box

Item #070

#070 - Rectangle Impossible $220.000
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Discontinued

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“A mechanical puzzle is a self-contained object, composed of one or more parts, which involves a problem for one person to solve by manipulation using logic, reasoning, insight, luck, and/or dexterity.” - Jerry Slocum

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