Parts of a Whole – An Equilateral Triangle Puzzle
The Parts of a Whole Puzzle gives students five shapes that must be arranged to form a triangle whose three sides are of equal length. In other words, form an equilateral triangle.
I would have renamed this as the Equilateral Triangle Puzzle, but I have already shared a different equilateral triangle puzzle on my blog before. That puzzle was slightly different in that the pieces were different colors, and there were restrictions regarding colors touching.
I found this puzzle in The Ultimate Clever Puzzle Book. I borrowed it for free from the Internet Archive’s Online Lending Library. This is a great way to check out puzzle books to see if they have enough puzzles you might be interested in before purchasing them.
I posted this in my classroom several weeks ago alongside 8 other puzzles. It didn’t get quite the attention that some of the other puzzles did.
Instead of solving the Parts of a Whole Puzzle, students tended to just see what kind of pictures they could make with the pieces. You can see a rocket ship that one student created above.
I wouldn’t recommend putting out so many puzzles at once. I normally only have one puzzle up at a time. I couldn’t use my magnetic puzzles for so much of the school year due to COVID-precautions.
So, when restrictions lifted, I might have gone a bit puzzle crazy…
Free Download of Parts of a Whole Puzzle
Parts of a Whole Puzzle (PDF) (3758 downloads )
Parts of a Whole Puzzle (Editable Publisher File ZIP) (1713 downloads )
Looking for more puzzles? Check out my puzzles page!
Puzzle Solutions
I intentionally do not make answers to the printable math puzzles I share on my blog available online because I strive to provide learning experiences for my students that are non-google-able. I would like other teachers to be able to use these puzzles in their classrooms as well without the solutions being easily found on the Internet.
However, I do recognize that us teachers are busy people and sometimes need to quickly reference an answer key to see if a student has solved a puzzle correctly or to see if they have interpreted the instructions properly.
If you are a teacher who is using these puzzles in your classroom, please send me an email at sarah@mathequalslove.net with information about what you teach and where you teach. I will be happy to forward an answer key to you.
Not a teacher? Go ahead and send me an email as well. Just let me know what you are using the puzzles for. I am continually in awe of how many people are using these puzzles with scouting groups, with senior adults battling dementia, as fun activities in their workplace, or as a birthday party escape room.
More Puzzles with Movable Pieces
- Pentominoes Parrot Puzzle
- Math Symbol Square Edge Matching Puzzle
- Avoid Three Game (and Challenge Puzzle)
- Thanksgiving Square Edge Matching Puzzle
- Veterans Day Square Edge Matching Puzzle
- Diwali Square Edge Matching Puzzle
- Pentominoes Mammoth Puzzle
- Halloween Square Edge Matching Puzzle
- Mole Day Square Logic Puzzle
- Witch Hat Pentominoes Puzzle for Halloween
- 8 Bats Halloween Puzzle
- Jack-o’-lantern Square Halloween Logic Puzzle
How do you make your puzzles magnetic?
I buy adhesive magnets in bulk from Amazon. I have also purchased them from the craft section at Walmart, as well. I just add magnets to the back of each piece.
Can you post the answer?
Sincerely,
A math teacher, doctor, and engineer…
Here’s a hint: It’s definitely a think outside the box type puzzle.
If you’re still stuck, send me an email at mathequalslove@gmail.com, and I can send you a picture of the solution. I try not to post solutions on the blog.