Miscellaneous Mathematical Minutia: Part I – A Dice Puzzle

A Dice Puzzle
Problem:
Set six dice in the six circles above, using each side,
from one to six, only once, so that the total number of
pips of each of three three dice, contained in each the
circles making up the sides triangular pattern, is the
same. (For two Solutions turn on to Page 3)

© B. W. Reed January 9th, 2009

Miscellaneous Mathematical Minutia: Part I – A Dice Puzzle

(This Page is left Intentionally blank [sic].)

© B. W. Reed January 9th, 2009

 Miscellaneous Mathematical Minutia: Part I – A Dice Puzzle

Two Solutions:

Notes:

The two solutions to the puzzle given above are a 2×4 magic rectangle, slightly camouflaged,
discovered because of my long time – since the Fourth Grade – fascination with Magic
Squares. The dice are colored differently, red white to aid in the visualization of a pattern in
the number of pips – the even and odd numbers are each on the vertices of an equilateral tri-
angle for both solutions. (The Pythagoreans, with there fascination with even and odd num-
bers and their interest geometric arrangements of numbers, might have been intrigued by this
problem.) In fact both solutions are essentially the same because one solution implies the oth-
er; If the dice in the first solution are flipped, so that the faces that are down are up, the result
is a solution that is not essentially different from the second solution. These two solutions are
the only essentially different solutions.

© B. W. Reed January 9th, 2009