Koshi ARAI, (Aug.28 / 2014)

I have designed new puzzle “3 Pentagons” in Desember 2012. The goal is to make a symmetric flat shape. There are 3 solutions. The mechanical version of this puzzle was made last year. And, I presented it in IPP34 (International Puzzle Party 2014)

In 2012, Vesa Timonen designed “SYMMETRICK”, which is only 2 pieces. Only 2 pieces, but it is not easy to solve it. Yuko, my wife, really like “SYMMETRICK” and purchased some copies. I also interested in the puzzle to make a symmetric shape.

So I try to make such a kind of puzzle for the new-year’s card of 2013. I aimed for designing the puzzle of 3 pieces.

The puzzle I have designed is “3 Pentagons” and I have sent the New-Year’s Card 2013 on which the figure of “3 Pentagons” is printed.

Then I made the wood version of 3 Pentagons in October 2013. That is the exchange puzzle for the Exchange IPP34, and at the same time it has been submitted for The Puzzle Design Competition. The competition model is the larger size of 3 Pentagons made from the wood, Pterocarpus jndjcus (Amboine, Pashu Padauk, Malay Paduak or New Guinea Rosewood).

The following is the picture of it.

: The exchange model

The shape of all 3 pieces is pentagon, and the goal is to make a symmetric ?at shape. There are 3 solutions, and it is the important point.

• The Name of Puzzle: 3 Pentagons
• Designer: Koshi ARAI
• Materials of the exchange model: Wood, the surface is Rosewood
• Manufacture: Koshi ARAI &
  • Material Wood: Siokawa Co. LTD.
  • Laser Cut: ALC Co. LTD.
  • BOX: Yokoi Package Co. LTD.
  • Finishing Up: Koshi ARAI
• Price: \1,800._ ($18.0, ?14.0 now, but it depends on the rate).

If anything is OK, it is easy to make a puzzle with only one solution in this field of making a symmetric shape. The number of pieces must be limited. I think that 2 or 3 is good, but 4 is too many. If it has only one solution, it must be not easy. If possible, it’s preferable to have more than one solution and is not easy to find each solution.

[Important Remark]

The following description should never be read, before trying to solve “3 Pentagons”. But, after trying this puzzle, you likely feel Why? or What’s the structure?

Crick here to next page.

-- Koshi ARAI