15 puzzle facts for kids
The 15 puzzle is a fun sliding puzzle. It has a frame with square tiles. Each tile has a number on it. One tile is always missing. This empty space lets you slide the other tiles around. The goal of the puzzle is to put all the numbers in the right order. It's like a mini challenge for your brain!
Contents
What is the 15 Puzzle?
This puzzle is also known by many names. Some call it the Gem Puzzle or Boss Puzzle. You might also hear it called the Game of Fifteen or Mystic Square. It's a classic puzzle that has been around for a long time.
How to Play the Puzzle
Imagine you have a square frame. Inside are tiles with numbers from 1 up to 15. One spot is empty. You can only move a tile if it is next to the empty space. You slide the tile into that empty spot. Your mission is to arrange the tiles so they are in numerical order. You want 1, 2, 3, and so on, all lined up correctly.
Different Sizes of the Puzzle
The 15 puzzle is the most famous version. It has 15 numbered tiles in a 4x4 grid. This means there are 16 total spots, with one empty. But there are other sizes too!
- The 8 puzzle is smaller. It has 8 numbered tiles in a 3x3 grid. This means there are 9 total spots, with one empty.
- Sometimes, people name the puzzle by the number of tiles. So, a 3x3 puzzle is the 8 puzzle. A 4x4 puzzle is the 15 puzzle.
- Other times, they name it by the total number of spaces. So, a 3x3 puzzle might be called the 9 puzzle. A 4x4 puzzle might be called the 16 puzzle.
A Similar 3D Puzzle
There is another puzzle called the Minus Cube. It was made in the USSR. It works a bit like the 15 puzzle. But instead of flat tiles, it uses 3D pieces. You slide these pieces around in a similar way.
Images for kids
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A solved 15 puzzle
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U.S. Political cartoon about finding a Republican presidential candidate in 1880
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Sam Loyd's 1914 illustration of the unsolvable variation
See also
In Spanish: Juego del 15 para niños
