Edge-matching puzzle

An edge-matching puzzle is a type of tiling puzzle involving tiling an area with (typically regular) polygons whose edges are distinguished with colours or patterns, in such a way that the edges of adjacent tiles match.

Edge-matching puzzles are known to be NP-complete, and capable of conversion to and from equivalent jigsaw puzzles and polyomino packing puzzle.[1]

The first edge-matching puzzles were patented in the U.S. by E. L. Thurston in 1892.[2]

Current examples of commercial edge-matching puzzles include the Eternity II puzzle, TetraVex, Dodek Duo, Kadon Enterprises' range of edge-matching puzzles, and the Edge Match Puzzles iPhone app.

See also

References

  1. ^ Erik D. Demaine, Martin L. Demaine. "Jigsaw Puzzles, Edge Matching, and Polyomino Packing: Connections and Complexity". http://theory.lcs.mit.edu/~edemaine/papers/Jigsaw_GC/paper.pdf. Retrieved 2007-08-12. 
  2. ^ "Rob's puzzle page: Edge Matching". http://home.comcast.net/~stegmann/pattern.htm#edgematch. Retrieved 2007-08-12. 

External links