A puzzle is a game, problem, or toy that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge. In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together in a logical way, in order to arrive at the correct or fun solution of the puzzle. There are different genres of puzzles, such as crossword puzzles, word-search puzzles, number puzzles, relational puzzles, and logic puzzles. The academic study of puzzles is called enigmatology. Puzzles are often created to be a form of entertainment but they can also arise from serious mathematical or logical problems. In such cases, their solution may be a significant contribution to mathematical research.
There are several categories of puzzles, such as one-sided puzzles: the pictures of the puzzles are mostly based on natural scenery, buildings and some familiar patterns. Castles and mountains are two traditional themes, but any drawings and images can be used as a puzzle material. There are some companies that also offer services for making puzzles of private photography; Double-sided puzzles: There are other types of puzzles that have patterns printed on both sides of the pieces. Players can make groups according to the patterns on any side. At the same time, the difficulty of the game is also increased, because as far as the pieces in the hand are concerned, it is difficult for players to determine which side is the correct side; 3D puzzles: In addition to the traditional flat puzzles, there are different kinds of 3D puzzles. The pieces of the three-dimensional puzzle are mostly made of more solid materials such as wood or foam. Its spatial characteristics often lead to an increase in difficulty, requiring players to splicing pieces in a specific order: if the completed parts are improperly assembled, the remaining pieces may not be able to continue to be spliced. Another type of toy known as a "puzzle box" is also common: players can assemble small drawers or boxes with items in the middle from interlocking parts that resemble pieces of a flat-panel puzzle. Mechanical puzzles or dexterity puzzles such as the Rubik's Cube and Soma cube can be stimulating toys for children or recreational activities for adults.
Solutions of puzzles often require the recognition of patterns and the adherence to a particular kind of ordering. People with a high level of inductive reasoning aptitude may be better at solving such puzzles than others. But puzzles based upon inquiry and discovery may be solved more easily by those with good deduction skills. Deductive reasoning improves with practice. Mathematical puzzles often involve BODMAS. BODMAS is an acronym and it stands for Bracket, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction. In certain regions, PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition and Subtraction) is the synonym of BODMAS. It explains the order of operations to solve an expression. Some mathematical puzzles require Top to Bottom convention to avoid the ambiguity in the order of operations. It is an elegantly simple idea that relies, as sudoku does, on the requirement that numbers appear only once starting from top to bottom as coming along.
Kids puzzles have many benefits for children: Children must use their brains while playing puzzles, so when children play puzzles, they will exercise their hands-on ability, reading and writing ability and problem-solving ability at the same time. Children must first understand the method of jigsaw puzzles. From the description, they can exercise their ability to read and write. In the process of playing with their parents or other small partners, they will also exercise their listening and speaking skills. When multiple children work together to solve puzzles, the children's collective division of labor and cooperation ability can be exercised. Communication skills can be exercised from an early age. When children do puzzles together, they can naturally exercise their ability to communicate with others, divide and cooperate with others in the process of jigsaw puzzles. Children playing puzzles can also exercise children's observation ability and improve children's learning ability. In the process of jigsaw puzzles, in order to successfully complete the graphics, it is necessary to carefully observe each piece of the puzzle. In this process, it can play a good role in children's understanding of colors and graphics, etc. exercise effect. Adult puzzles exercise adults' image thinking and logical thinking; can improve observation and analysis ability, can exercise mentality, cultivate adults' patience and concentration; exercise adults the ability of hand-eye coordination, cultivate the spirit of concentration.
Most modern puzzles are made of cardboard, so the cost is lower and the production process is simpler. The pattern of the puzzle is an entire fine art print that is pasted on the surface of the cardboard before cutting. The content of the picture can be an enlarged photograph, painting, or other types of graphic art. The cardboard after sticking will be sent to a special imprinting machine, which is equipped with a steel cutter group combined according to a predetermined pattern. After the cardboard is punched by the machine tool, the cutter group will cut it into pieces. The process is quite similar to the forming process of graphic cookies, except that the impact force of the puzzle stamper is much higher. A typical 1000-piece puzzle, for example, requires the machine tool to generate up to 700 tons of pressure during operation in order for the cutter set on the die to completely cut through the cardboard. The die (printing plate) of the puzzle is usually made of a board such as plywood. The mold maker first draws or burns grooves on the template according to the grouping pattern of the puzzle pieces, and then inserts the blades one by one into the grooves to assemble into knives. Group. The surface of the cutter set is also covered with a layer of elastic material, usually foam rubber, which is used to eject the cardboard pieces from the pores of the cutter set after printing.