how can you connect 9 dots arranged in a 3x3 square with 1 single line??

Question

example is laying the paper on the ground and walking around the earth 2 times to connect all dots with 1 line. Also if you take a fat marker and draw a single line through all the dots. Any other suggestions for a solution?

Answer 1

A) Without picking up your pencil draw an s-shape through all three rows of dots. (your question does not say the line has to be straight; this goes to the definition of "line", since "lines" on the road curve with the road)

B) Take the piece of paper with the 9 dots and tear it into strips of 3 dots each. Arrange the 3 rows colinearly. Draw a straight line through all 9 dots. (your question does not say you cannot rearrange the 9 dots)

C) Draw your 3x3 square of dots on very porous paper. Carefully fold the paper twice so that all three rows of dots overlap perfectly. Using a very "bleedy" marker, draw a heavy line through the top row and let it bleed through the paper to the other 2 rows. (as long as the paper remains folded all 9 dots are connected by that single line)

D) Fold the paper twice horizontally and twice vertically, so that all nine dots are stacked in perfect alignment. Stick a needle through all nine dots to form a line.

E) (Similar to your own suggestion, but less work) Tape the paper with the 3x3 grid to a basketball. Draw a line around the basketball twice connecting all three rows. (your question does not say the line is straight, see above)

F) (Similar to your own suggestion, but more "broad brush") Draw the line with a paint brush wide enough to enclose all 3 rows. (your question says nothing about line thickness)

EDIT:
I know others have given similar answers before me, but I did not look at them before writing my answer. If you don't believe me, pick someone else.

Answer 2

Walkin' 'round the earth won't do it. The 'straight line' on a spherical surface is like the equator, or like one of the meridian lines: it won't give you the wiggle room you need to link up more dots than those you got on the first pass through. But if you take that array and paste it on a donut shape, you're in business: You can draw a geodesic that will spiral its way through any number of dots. Another possibility, related to the 'fat marker solution,' is to make big fat dots that overlap at one point. Any straight line that passes through that one point does the deed. That kinda stretches the meaning of 'dot' out of shape, but, hey, it's just a puzzle question, you know? Besides, you allowed 'line' with 'fat marker.' Fair's fair. Get all of the dots to sit down in the same room, then tell them: "You know why ducks don't eat cheese?" That straight line should cause the dots to connect, in some sense of 'connect'.

Answer 3

I can think of several answers:
*fold the paper and stab a pencil thru it
*draw the points close together and use a marker
*make a cylinder and draw a line on the surface that goes like a spiral but is a straight line on the cylinder
* use blotting paper and the line will ooze to touch the points
* draw on a sphere and .... same as cylinder

Answer 4

Can't be done,
But You can connect all 9 lines with 4 strait lines,
But once you start you can not take the pen or pencil off the paper

Answer 5

fold the paper so that all of the points are on 3 creases and next to each other. Then use a marker and you can connect them all at once.

Answer 6

Please give me the ten points for my correct answer. Thx. YOu meant to ask how to connect the dots without lifting the pen off the paper. Start from the bottom right, about an inch diag. away from the dot. Draw upwards to the left till you hit the top left dot. Go to the right till you hit the top right dot. Then slant down leftward and hit 2nd row right dot and bottom middle dot and keep going for about an inch after the dot. Then pivot and bring it up straight, drawing through the bottom left and middle left dots. This should look like an arrow pointing northwest.

Answer 7

Rip the paper so you have 3 1x3 sheets and lay them in a straight line.

Answer 8

i've only heard that with THREE connected lines (not one single) and i know that answer is a 'Z' that extends pasts the dots?

Answer 9

make two U rurns through the middle line. Goe throguh frist line make a uturn and go through second line and then make another u turn!

Answer 10

start going horizontal on the top row, then go down on the right column, then up diagonally back to the top left dot, then down the left column, then across the bottom row.