Matchstick puzzles are rearrangement puzzles in which a number of

matchstick A match is a tool for starting a fire. Typically, matches are made of small wooden sticks or stiff paper. One end is coated with a material that can be ignited by friction generated by striking the match against a suitable surface. Wooden matc ...

s are arranged as squares, rectangles or triangles. The problem to solve is usually formulated as: "move ''n'' matchsticks to make ''m'' squares, triangles, or rectangles". Some match stick problems are solved with planar topological graphs. Other matchstick puzzles require

lateral thinking Lateral thinking is a manner of solving problems using an indirect and creative approach via reasoning that is not immediately obvious. It involves ideas that may not be obtainable using only traditional step-by-step logic. The term was first ...

and are not just about making geometric shapes. Different three-dimensional matchstick arrangements are also possible as puzzles held together with friction.

References

{{puzzle-stub Puzzles