Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Square Grid Puzzle: How Many Squares Do You See?

How many squares do you see in this picture:
This puzzle has been going round the internet, and here's my analysis


I see 40:
  • 8 tiny ones, in two 2x2s
  • 18 regular (4x4 plus 2 in middle)
  • 4 2x2s one at each corner
  • 4 2x2s centered on each side
  • 1 2x2 in the middle
  • 4 3x3s one at each corner
  • 1 4x4
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EDITTED:
Ok, some people don't see why there's 9 2x2 squares. Here they are with color to help:
The first 4, that everyone sees
One in the middle, easily seen

2 more

And the last 2!


25 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:56 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. Anonymous9:49 PM

    Mate, you have double counted 8 2x2 squares there is only 9 in total

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  3. Anonymous9:51 PM

    Mate, you have double counted 8 2x2 squares there is only 9 in total

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  4. @Anon 9:49 - not really.
    We agree there are 9 2x2s.
    So:
    1 4x4
    4 3x3s
    9 2x2s
    18 1x1s
    8 tiny squares

    1+4+9+18+8=40

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  5. Anonymous9:05 PM

    There are 36 squares all together. There are only five 2x2 squares couning the one in the middle.

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  6. Hi @Anon 9:05.
    There are 9 2x2s. To show this, I've added pictures to the post coloring them in.

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  7. Correct answer is 40 - you forgot the 4 3x3's ...

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  8. Anonymous9:14 AM

    There are 40. Not less, not more.

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  9. you don't count the 4 3x3 squares???

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  10. very easy
    (4²+3²+2²+1²)+(8+2)=40

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  11. Anonymous7:37 PM

    3x3's should not be included. 4 sides may be the definition of squares but does not follow the same pattern as the rest of the puzzle.

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  12. Anonymous7:41 AM

    A square is a square, regardless of its size. 3x3 included. There's so a 4x4 square, shall we exclude it as well???

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  13. Anonymous6:22 AM

    A square is a square, it has all equal sides, THAT is pattern, so yes, 3x3's DO count and the final answer IS 40.

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  14. I swear I one time counted 40 but it was after a very long day. 40 is easily found if one only thinks inside the box...

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  15. I swear, one time I counted 41 but 40 squares are easily found, if one only, "Thinks Inside The Box"...

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  16. I counted 40 then added 1 for the guy counting it. Oops, I revealed my true nature.

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  17. Well, not "NO ONE". Actually, several replies explicitly include it, e.g.

    "1 4x4
    4 3x3s
    9 2x2s
    18 1x1s
    8 tiny squares

    1+4+9+18+8=40"

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  18. Anonymous9:01 PM

    http://krexy.com/how-many-squares

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  19. Anonymous10:09 AM

    37 Black line + 4 orange big + 4 green big + 4 blue big + 4 red big + 2 small orange + 2 small green + 2 small blue + 2 small red = 61 squares...

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  20. Anonymous10:10 AM

    37 Black line + 4 orange big + 4 green big + 4 blue big + 4 red big + 2 small orange + 2 small green + 2 small blue + 2 small red = 61 squares...

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  21. My friend, the Orange squares include the black line squares and overlap with the green squares - so a count of 61 requires double-counting.

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  22. Anonymous7:46 PM

    Some of you are counting the colors... The colors are for illustration purposes only. To show you the actual squares.

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  23. Anonymous1:51 AM

    What about the 9x9 from each corner?

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  24. Todd Furse said...
    "I counted 40 then added 1 for the guy counting it."

    LOL: extra points for humor!!

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