Tricky Test 2 Level 29

Overview

This level shows a 3x3 grid made of matchsticks (nine small square cells) and asks you to "Remove 8 matches to form 2 non-touching squares." The trap is that you must leave exactly two squares that do not touch each other. The solution is to keep the outer perimeter as one large square and remove the inner matches except for the center small 1x1 square, leaving the outer square and the center square separated by a gap of empty cells.

• Difficulty: Hard
• Estimated moves: 8 removals

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Read the instruction: "Remove 8 matches to form 2 non-touching squares."
2. Recognize the 3x3 grid of matchsticks. The outer perimeter forms one large 3x3 square.
3. Decide to keep the outer perimeter intact (this is your first square).
4. Inside, remove 8 of the inner matchsticks, leaving only the small center 1x1 square in place.
5. The result is two squares: the outer large perimeter square and the isolated center small square. They do not touch each other because the inner cells between them have been broken.
6. Confirm exactly 8 matches have been removed and that the two remaining squares are non-touching, then submit.

Strategy & Reasoning

The puzzle requires removing exactly 8 matches from a 24-match 3x3 grid, leaving 16 matches that form two non-touching squares. The cleanest solution keeps the outer perimeter (a large square) and preserves only the center 1x1 square. All other internal matches are removed, which breaks up the inner grid so that only the outer square and the center square remain. Because the center square is surrounded by broken (match-free) cells, it does not touch the outer perimeter. This satisfies the "2 non-touching squares" requirement. The key is to avoid leaving extra partial squares that would make the arrangement invalid.

Tips & Common Mistakes

• Mistake: removing matches that leave touching or overlapping squares. Correct: keep the outer perimeter and isolate the center small square so the two do not touch.
• Mistake: removing the wrong number of matches. Correct: exactly 8 matches must be removed, leaving 16.
• Mistake: leaving more than two squares. Correct: after removals, only the outer square and the center square should remain.
• Mistake: breaking the outer perimeter. Correct: the outer perimeter must stay intact as the first square.

The reason this arrangement is correct is that removing 8 matches from the 24-match grid leaves exactly 16. Keeping the outer perimeter supplies one square, and preserving only the center 1x1 square supplies the second. Every other internal match is removed, so no partial or touching squares remain between them. This is why the center square must stay isolated — if you leave extra internal matches, you create additional squares and violate the "2 non-touching" condition.

The key takeaway is that the outer perimeter must stay intact as the first square, and only the center 1x1 square should remain inside. Removing all other internal matches ensures no extra or touching squares form between them. The count of removed matches must be exactly 8 to leave 16.