Clues for the fourth puzzle

You can use the same algebraic technique that we saw for the last puzzle. Try to select two squares to designate as x and y (and maybe another for z if you need it), so that the sizes of the rest of the squares are determined.

Be careful with your arithmetic. One little mistake is enough to ruin everything.

   
   
   
x y
 
   
 

Suggestion: let x and y be as indicated. You won't even need a z. They determine sizes of the squares immediately above, left of, and below the x square. Then you can determine the size of the square below y. Then the little blue square to the right of y, and so on.

Next clue.

Back to Puzzle 3.

1999. This page may be printed for classroom use.
David E. Joyce

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Clark University
Worcester, MA 01610

The address of this file is http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoye/puzzles/square1.html