Kadon Enterprises, Inc., Ten-Yen, the enclosure challenge

Ten-Yen: the enclosure challenge

Here is a different sort of challenge. Any one color—the U, T and Z groups—can be enclosed with the other two colors. The enclosure must be complete, the sides fully closed, not just by corners. This is an example of incomplete enclosure:

Below are examples of full enclosures for each of the three color groups. The T and U group have a perimeter of 28 units; the Z group has a 26. Can you do better? What's your shortest perimeter? Since it is not possible to enclose a group and have all pieces fit within their 6x6 tray, we know that 26 is the minimum. If you find one shorter than 28 for the T and U group, or prove there are no shorter ones, send us your solution. First solver with the best answer will win a prize, and we'll post the results here.

Ten-Yen: a fully enclosed, 28-unit perimeter enclosure of the U group

Ten-Yen: a fully enclosed, 26-unit perimeter enclosure of the Z group Ten-Yen: a fully enclosed, 28-unit perimeter enclosure of the U group

Email your results to: Enclosure.

Back to Ten-Yen