Genady Posted June 1, 2023 Posted June 1, 2023 I've prepared a simple toy: It consists of a pencil and a string that goes through a hole in the pencil and makes a loop. The ends of the string are glued together. The loop is shorter than the long end of the pencil: so, it can't be moved over it. Then, I insert the pencil through the buttonhole like this: This is how it looks from the other side: I can separate them again and repeat without cutting, breaking, untying, etc. Can you figure it out? I can take more pictures, from different angles, if you need. There are no hidden cuts or anything like it. You can make it yourself. 1
Genady Posted June 2, 2023 Author Posted June 2, 2023 This is what happens if the pencil is pulled to the right: and to the left: How to get it out?
Genady Posted June 5, 2023 Author Posted June 5, 2023 Reminder: Spoiler We live in a three-dimensional space.
TheVat Posted June 5, 2023 Posted June 5, 2023 Spoiler When you pulled to the left, you essentially made a knot. To untie, you don't stretch the string, but rather stretch the fabric in three-space, as you reverse the original knot. 1
Genady Posted June 5, 2023 Author Posted June 5, 2023 Good! +1 And, Spoiler it can be easily solved when you pull to the right. Do you see it?
Genady Posted June 6, 2023 Author Posted June 6, 2023 Spoiler Except for a different parts orientation, taking the pencil off the buttonhole is not different from unbuckling a belt:
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