7.02:_Tangrams

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<p class="lt-math-9864">Tangrams are a seven-piece geometric puzzle that dates back at least to the Song Dynasty in China (about 1100 AD). Below<u><sup>[1]</sup></u> you will find the seven puzzle pieces. Make a careful copy (a photocopy or printout is best), cut out the puzzle pieces, and then use them to solve the problems in this section.</p>

<p class="lt-math-9864">Whenever you solve a tangram puzzle, your job is to <b>use all seven pieces to form the shape</b>. They should fit together like puzzle pieces, sitting flat on the table; <b>no overlapping</b> of the pieces is allowed.</p>

<p class="lt-math-9864">You can trace around your solutions to remember what you have done and to have a record of your work.</p>

<section class="box-example"><span id="Problem_1"></span><h2 class="box-legend lt-math-9864"><span class="lt-icon-default">Problem 1</span></h2>

<p class="lt-math-9864">Use your tangram pieces to build the following designs<u><sup>[2]</sup></u>. How many can you make?</p>

<p class="lt-math-9864">(These are all separate challenges.  Each one requires all seven pieces.  Once you solve one, trace your solution. Then try to solve another one.)</p>
</section>

<section class="box-example"><span id="Problem_2"></span><h2 class="box-legend lt-math-9864"><span class="lt-icon-default">Problem 2</span></h2>

<p class="lt-math-9864">Use your tangram pieces to build the following designs<u><sup>[3]</sup></u>. How many can you make?</p>

<p class="lt-math-9864">(These are all separate challenges.  Each one requires all seven pieces.  Once you solve one, trace your solution. Then try to solve another one.)</p>
</section>

<section class="box-exercise"><span id="Think_.2F_Pair_.2F_Share"></span><h2 class="box-legend lt-math-9864"><span class="lt-icon-default">Think / Pair / Share</span></h2>

<ul>
    <li class="lt-math-9864">Which tangram problems were easier and which were harder: making &ldquo;real life&rdquo; objects like cats and people, or purely mathematical objects like the rectangle?</li>
    <li class="lt-math-9864">What do you think made one kind of problem easier or harder?</li>
</ul>
</section>

<hr />
<ol>
    <li class="lt-math-9864">Image of tangram puzzle from Wikimedia Commons, public domain. <u>&crarr;</u></li>
    <li class="lt-math-9864">Tangram puzzles from Wikimedia Commons, public domain. <u>&crarr;</u></li>
    <li class="lt-math-9864">Tangram puzzles from pixababy.com,<u>CC0 Creative Commons</u>. <u>&crarr;</u></li>
</ol>

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