Box Puzzles
For all these puzzles you will need to have plenty of match boxes with sides in the ratio 1:2:3. Not all boxes of matches have these dimensions.
Here is a way to check if your boxes will work.
If you can pack four of the boxes like this then they are the right shape.
6 Box Puzzle (A)
Glue pairs of boxes together to give these three shapes.
Then see if you can build the 3 pieces into a cuboid.
6 Box Puzzle (B)
This is a different way to glue the pairs together.
Two of the shapes (1) and (3) are
straightforward but you have to
be a little more careful when making (2).
Here is a diagram to show just how the two boxes are
glued together. Imagine the surface of the box divided
up into squares. Just one square will be joined.
Now try and build a cuboid with the three pieces.
8 Box Puzzle (A)
Glue 4 pairs of boxes together to make these 4 pieces .
All are straightforward except for number 2.
Here is a detailed diagram to show that 2 “squares” overlap.
Now build a cuboid with the 4 pieces.
8 Box Puzzle (B)
Glue 4 pairs of boxes to create these four puzzle pieces.
Number (4) is the tricky piece. Its just like the
piece (2) shown in 6 Box Puzzle (B) above
Now build a cuboid from the 4 pieces.
10 Box Puzzle
Glue 5 pairs of boxes as shown here. Can you build a cuboid
with sides in the ratio 3:4:5 with the 5 pieces?
Note that one of the pieces is exactly the same as the detailed shape shown in 8 Box Puzzle (A) above.