Using a piece of scratch paper, cut eight rectangular cards that will fit in the boxes below. Write a 1 on the first card, a 2 on the second card, and so on, until you have the cards numbered from 1 to 8.
The challenge in this puzzle is to place the number cards in the rectangles below so that no two consecutive numbers are next to each other horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. For example, if the 5 is placed in the far left box, then the 4 or 6 can’t be placed in the box directly to the right of the 5 or the two boxes that are diagonally above and below the 5.
Think about how you tried to solve this problem so that you can discuss it afterwards.
Solution
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Students were to put the digits one to eight into an array in such a way that no two consecutive numbers were next to each other horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. One of several possible solutions is given below.
