Intricate Island Puzzle Challenges Readers to Decipher Royal domains
A complex mathematical puzzle, originally featured in science News, is captivating puzzle enthusiasts and mathematicians alike.The challenge, devised by Ben Orlin, author of Math with Bad Drawings, presents a land division problem rooted in a fictional dispute between four queens vying for control of four identical islands. The puzzle requires completing maps of the islands based on limited data and a set of specific rules governing the queens’ territories.
The scenario details a peace agreement brokered by the queens’ daughters, establishing that each island would be divided into a 20×20 grid, with each queen controlling five connected plots on each island. Crucially, the four domains on each island must meet at a single corner, and the maps are to remain secret. A spy has provided one complete map and three partial maps, along with the key detail that the regions on the fourth island possess unique shapes, none being identical or mirror images of each other. This information is sufficient to deduce the complete layouts of all four islands,testing spatial reasoning and logical deduction skills.
The puzzle’s appeal lies in its blend of geometric constraints and strategic thinking. Solving it demands careful consideration of connectivity,shape recognition,and the elimination of possibilities. Readers interested in testing their skills can find the puzzle and submit solutions at http://sciencenews.org/puzzle-answers. Questions and feedback can be directed to puzzles@sciencenews.org. The original puzzle appeared in the October 1, 2025 issue of Science News.
