Missing square puzzle - Printable Version +- MKLab (https://mklab.gr) +-- Forum: [INDEX] (https://mklab.gr/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: MATHEMATICS (https://mklab.gr/forumdisplay.php?fid=3) +---- Forum: ARTICLES (https://mklab.gr/forumdisplay.php?fid=13) +---- Thread: Missing square puzzle (/showthread.php?tid=1134)

Missing square puzzle - mklabgr - 07-15-2026 Missing square puzzle Summary The Missing Square Puzzle is a famous geometric illusion that challenges our intuition about shapes and areas. It shows two arrangements of the same pieces that appear to create identical 13×5 triangles, yet in one version a small square seems to mysteriously disappear. The trick is that the large figure is not actually a true triangle: the supposed hypotenuse is slightly bent because the smaller triangles used to build it have different slopes. Our eyes interpret the edge as a straight line, but the tiny difference creates or removes exactly enough space to account for the missing square.  The puzzle teaches an important lesson in mathematics: visual appearance can be misleading, and precise measurements and logical reasoning are more reliable than simply trusting what we see. Originally popularized by magician Paul Curry in 1953, it remains a classic example of how geometry can reveal surprising results hidden behind simple shapes.  ARTICLE