Solution
This was solved by Joseph DeVincentis and Rob Pratt. Rob used some nonlinear programming to get a solution that was close to working, and then got the true solution from that. It is always intriguing to see if computation can solve some family of puzzles.
I do not know if many of you cut it out and tried it. The key to the solution is to place the two hypotenuses against the long side:
I used the puzzle since it can be challenging, especially in relation to the simplicity of the setup. Anyone interested in various wood puzzles, especially in 3D, would likely enjoy Stewart's book, Geometric Puzzle Design, AKPeters, 2007.
[Back to Problem 1186]
© Copyright 2014 Stan Wagon. Reproduced with permission.