Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: latebind on 23/10/2009 15:02:02

Title: The impossible E?
Post by: latebind on 23/10/2009 15:02:02: Here is a tough challenge for the scientists....

--With a standard pen(or pencil), can you draw the Capital letter E, without lifting your pen from beginning to end, and without going over any line twice?
Title: Re: The impossible E?
Post by: graham.d on 23/10/2009 15:30:07: Short of there being some solution that is pedantic about some flaw in the question's wording, then no, it can't be done.
Title: Re: The impossible E?
Post by: graham.d on 23/10/2009 15:35:47: One such pedantic interpretation is that it does not say that the paper can't be folded, so you can draw a figure of eight across an edge so that only half is left when unfolded (ie the letter E), but I assume such tricks are not in the spirit any more than assuming a none 2D geometry or some other unusual spacial geometry.
Title: Re: The impossible E?
Post by: latebind on 23/10/2009 15:53:43: You can use your imagination. No flaw in the question, this is not one of those language tricks, just a plain riddle.
Title: The impossible E?
Post by: RD on 23/10/2009 16:07:56: Draw a digital calculator style 6 and use the folded corner to create an E.

. [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: The impossible E?
Post by: latebind on 23/10/2009 16:20:27: RD :: VERY Nice Solution!!

(Although not very reassuring for those trying to save ink&time by writing more efficiently :))
Title: The impossible E?
Post by: RD on 23/10/2009 16:46:41: Quote from: latebind on 23/10/2009 16:20:27
... trying to save ink&time by writing more efficiently

What about shorthand (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorthand) ?.
Title: The impossible E?
Post by: graham.d on 23/10/2009 18:58:15: Huh! That is a variant of the solution I suggested without the flashy graphics. So where is my congratulation then!! :-)
Title: The impossible E?
Post by: LeeE on 23/10/2009 20:44:35: Many people write the letter 'E' with a loop for the middle 'leg'.
Title: The impossible E?
Post by: Don_1 on 24/10/2009 11:49:04: How about this then:
[diagram=536_0]

Well, you only asked if I could inscribe a letter 'E' without removing pen from t' paper, you didn't stipulate any particular font or that it had to be a capital!
Title: The impossible E?
Post by: lightarrow on 24/10/2009 16:38:31: Quote from: Don_1 on 24/10/2009 11:49:04
How about this then:
[diagram=536_0]

Well, you only asked if I could inscribe a letter 'E' without removing pen from t' paper, you didn't stipulate any particular font or that it had to be a capital!
Maybe I'm wrong, but didn't he actually did, writing 'E'?
Title: The impossible E?
Post by: jgand on 25/10/2009 05:33:11: If you precise enough then you can draw anything without lifting a pen, but precise is the key.
∑
Title: Re: The impossible E?
Post by: Bread Girl on 14/12/2014 23:13:47: DoEs this count? [8D]

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seymoronion.com%2FAnnabelle%2FE.png&hash=6b22742e6707383abc36c07201335f9d)

It can even be made with an etch-a-sketch! [;D]
Title: Re: The impossible E?
Post by: Ethos_ on 15/12/2014 00:58:37: Quote from: Bread Girl on 14/12/2014 23:13:47
DoEs this count? [8D]

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seymoronion.com%2FAnnabelle%2FE.png&hash=6b22742e6707383abc36c07201335f9d)

It can even be made with an etch-a-sketch! [;D]
Personally, I would approve. Clever solution Bread Girl!!

And BTW;............welcome to The Naked Scientists.
Title: Re: The impossible E?
Post by: PmbPhy on 17/12/2014 03:05:37: Quote from: latebind on 23/10/2009 15:02:02
Here is a tough challenge for the scientists....

--With a standard pen(or pencil), can you draw the Capital letter E, without lifting your pen from beginning to end, and without going over any line twice?
You didn't say I can't use an eraser so this is very simple to solve. Just draw a six and erase part of it.
Title: Re: The impossible E?
Post by: Aemilius on 19/12/2014 02:53:54: Here's an oldie (my money is on Dr. Calverd for this one). Just connect all nine dots with four straight lines (without lifting your virtual pencil off the virtual paper of course)....

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasion.com%2Fpic79%2F82218f04b87b79d148aa97c66da291bd.gif&hash=90cfa80a1fd2f394da3c91734a3a10d0)

Here's an example of a failed attempt....

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasion.com%2Fpic79%2Fbd154020406e29a0c7c3d5dfc72846ce.gif&hash=5d36771102ac2b3af79087413d67b0b1)
Title: Re: The impossible E?
Post by: Aemilius on 19/12/2014 18:18:46: Hah! Nevermind, I just Googled "connect nine dots with four straight lines".... that old puzzle even has its own Wikipedia page!
Title: Re: The impossible E?
Post by: tartarusMkII on 24/12/2014 06:15:30: Quote from: LeeE on 23/10/2009 20:44:35
Many people write the letter 'E' with a loop for the middle 'leg'.

I would not say that more people :)