ROTATION PUZZLES
Devices:
The devices for all the puzzles in this paper can be accessed from the puzzle page of our website. A unit entitled Permutation Puzzles involves an algebraic analysis of these puzzles. I strongly recommend using this device to try solving some of these puzzles before reading the solutions given in that unit.|
[3,3] Rotating Puzzle Device: This device has 2 chambers with 3 disks in each. Either chamber can rotate moving the disks in the chamber along with the shared disk. A clockwise rotation of the left chamber followed by clockwise rotation of the right one has this result. |
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Warning:
Some patterns that can be imagined for this device cannot be obtained by these rotations.|
The Inversion Puzzle: If possible, start with the disk in the initial positions on the left and obtain the pattern on the right. |
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The Diagonal Puzzle: If possible, start with the disk in the initial positions on the left and obtain the pattern on the right. |
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The Top Switch Puzzle: If possible, start with the disk in the initial positions on the left and obtain the pattern on the right. |
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The Up-Down Puzzle: If possible, start with the disk in the initial positions on the left and obtain the pattern on the right. |
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Other Rotating Devices:
The [3,3] rotating puzzle devices is a special case of a [k,j] puzzle device.|
[3,4] Inversion Puzzle : If possible, start with the initial pattern on the left and obtain the one on the right. |
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[3,4] Up-Down Puzzle : Start with the initial pattern on the left and obtain the one on the right. |
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[3,5] Inversion Puzzle : If possible, start with the initial pattern on the left and obtain the one on the right. The permutation for this puzzle is(16)(25)(34). |
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You are encouraged to can make up additional puzzles.
