HOFFMAN PACKING PUZZLE

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Hoffman Made: November 1999

Hoffman 2

Ref. No.
DH51
Category:
Box Packing
Concept:
Dean Hoffman
Date:
1978
Approx.Size:
5" x 5" x 5"
Price:
No longer made
No of pieces:
27
The 27 identical blocks with dimensions AxBxC where A (the smallest dimension) is larger than (A+B+C)/4 pack into a box with sides A+B+C. This problem was posed by Dean Hoffman to a conference at Miami University in 1978.
The actual size used for each block is 18x20x22mm and each is made from a different species of wood. This puzzle is often referred to by its nickname "the sugar lump puzzle".

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