This actually means that each of the remaining three lines has to cover exactly $2$ of the remaining $6$ points each. With the above we can rule out type 3 being a part of any solution: We cannot have any line parallel to the initial $3$-line by the above argument. But three parallel lines are clearly impossible, since it takes two additional linear moves to visit and travel along all three, but we only have one line left! Ruling out type 3 So at least one line must cover more than one point which implies that the dashed grey line has to be added.
When the two blue $3$-lines shown above have been placed we have to cover the remaining three points by two lines. For instance if we have the following situation: It is not possible to have a solution involving parallel $3$-lines. When identifying rotations and reflections we have exactly three distinct types of $3$-lines: Since four lines covering only $2$ points each can never cover $9$ points a solution has at least one $3$-line in it. This question may require a more rigorous definition of "same picture" but I'm unable to think of a better way of describing it.įorget to begin with that we have to find a path, but simply try covering the $9$ points by four infinte straight lines.Ĭall a line covering $n$ points an $n$-line. How many solutions are there and how would you prove (other than through brute force) that the puzzle has only $K$ solution(s)? Treat solutions which are rotations or reflections of each other or solutions which generate the same "picture" despite their exact path as equivalent solutions. My initial thought is that, if the first solution is indeed the unique solution, then the Wikipedia article may be counting all the rotations, reflections, and alternate paths as different solutions to the puzzle because I can't think of another solution. Is just a $90\,^$ with the first two elements reversed and moved to the end of the path] In my cursory exploration of the puzzle, all the solutions I have found are either some rotation of the above solution or the same solution with a different starting point. In the Wikipedia page linked above, the solution is labeled as "One of many solutions to the puzzle." However, this page claims it's the unique solution to the puzzle.
A solution is displayed below (spoiler alert):
Nowhere is stated that the lines need to pass through the centre of the dots, so a simple three-line zigzag pattern would do it. To come to this solution, you would maybe not need to think outside the box, but surely outside the square.Ī three-line solution to the nine-dot problem is actually quite simple. This is the classical four-line solution, the arrow could of course point in three other directions.
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