Nine Point Problem

Nine point problem !

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Nine point problem is a brainteaser. I used to share this fun problem with the participants in the workshop on creativity to stimulate creative thinking and enhance problem-solving skill.

It encourages the participants to think outside the box and break away from conventional patterns of thinking. It demonstrates that sometimes the solutions to the problem requires stepping beyond perceived boundaries and exploring new perspectives.

It was a rewarding and fulfilling experience, watching the participants thriving solve the problem. I really enjoyed it.

Problem : There are nine dots shown as shown above. Join these nine dots by drawing just four lines, without lifting your pen or retracing any line.

(You can see solution of this problem  just below)

Later,  based on this, I developed ‘Seven Lines Problem’ and used it in my sessions on creativity and problem solving.

Problem: Draw a square and cross in it, without lifting your pen or retracing the lines; using maximum seven lines.

(You can see its solution below)

Mahendra Ingale, Pune 

January 2025