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A Little Game Called Pentominos

Project by GaryK posted 677 days ago 1414 views 47 times favorited 31 comments Add to Favorites Watch
A Little Game Called Pentominos
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Pentominos

Here is a little “game” that is composed entirely of squares or cubes. Squares for a 2D game and cubes for a 3D game.

You start with 60 cubes (I’ll use cubes from here on). You can make them whatever size you want. From the cubes you create the following 12 pieces. (be careful with the u shaped one that you don’t make the gap too small. Upper left one in the picture.) These are all the possible combinations with 5 pieces each.
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To get all long grain to long grain glue up you need to face the end grain up when gluing. I used a small radius on the edges to make the cubes show up better. You could make these from solid pieces of wood but this is simpler.

2D Game
The object of the game is to try to arrange the 12 pieces into rectangles as follows:
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10×6 (2339 solutions)
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12×5 (1010 solutions)
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15×4 (368 solutions)
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20×3 (2 solutions)
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Then there is the 3D Game

The object of the game is to try to arrange the 12 pieces into rectanglular cubes as follows:

5×4 x 3 (3940 solutions)
.

.

5×6 x 2 (264 Solutions)
.

.

10×3 x 2 (12 Solutions)
.

.

There are countless shapes possible.
Here are a couple.
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-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.


31 comments so far

View PhilipR's profile

PhilipR

17 posts in 679 days


posted 677 days ago

That’s a really cool idea! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it; nice work!

View toyguy's profile

toyguy

717 posts in 730 days


posted 676 days ago

Looks like a fun game. Makes you think… I like that kind of thing.

-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/

View rpmurphy509's profile

rpmurphy509

290 posts in 748 days


posted 676 days ago

All those shapes are made using just the 12 pieces shown at the top?

Very nice, never heard of it either. Looks like another great project!

-- Still learning everything

View Russel's profile

Russel

2056 posts in 832 days


posted 676 days ago

Reminds me of Tetris. Very cool.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7615 posts in 1112 days


posted 676 days ago

Yeah, I immediately thought of Tetris. Neat project, but I have enough problems making ONE cube at a time!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 882 days


posted 676 days ago

Where do you think the guy who did tetris got his shapes from?

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Russel's profile

Russel

2056 posts in 832 days


posted 676 days ago

Ah Ha!

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

View Chris 's profile

Chris

1469 posts in 884 days


posted 676 days ago

Thanks Gary!

-- Chris

View cheller's profile

cheller

249 posts in 1002 days


posted 676 days ago

Very nice. Thanks for providing the instructions.

-- Chelle http://artsgranddaughter.blogspot.com

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7299 posts in 1140 days


posted 676 days ago

Are you saying you invented Tetris? Wow! mike can I have your autograph

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11335 posts in 768 days


posted 676 days ago

Ok, another project hits my to-do list.

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 882 days


posted 676 days ago

Mike – Tetris was created by a Russian named Alexey Pajitnov.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14914 posts in 744 days


posted 676 days ago

Great one Gary. Excellent idea to get the mind working. I wonder if Alexey Pajitnov is now a millionaire?.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

View tommyboy's profile

tommyboy

13 posts in 682 days


posted 676 days ago

Outstanding

peace

-- peace

View Dadoo's profile

Dadoo

1723 posts in 884 days


posted 676 days ago

This is a great “time killer” for those times when you need to kill some time.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 882 days


posted 676 days ago

Grumpy – For the first tens year he didn’t make a dime due to the Russian/USSR government, but has since made something off of it. Not sure how much.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Marge's profile

Marge

144 posts in 847 days


posted 676 days ago

cool

-- Marge, Colorado

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

781 posts in 794 days


posted 676 days ago

Oh yes, I must do a set of these. Thanks Gary.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

View RobS's profile

RobS

1243 posts in 1200 days


posted 676 days ago

I like puzzles. These are cool. I don’t know if I could get that percise with my tools. Nice work!

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

View brunob's profile

brunob

1469 posts in 1063 days


posted 676 days ago

I think I’ll try one of these. Looks like a great way to use up some scrap wood.

-- Bruce from Central New York

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 882 days


posted 676 days ago

Rob – They don’t have to be all that precise.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6438 posts in 876 days


posted 675 days ago

really cool posting. when I first looked at it yesterday, I googled Pentominos and spent several minutes surfing sites about them. there are many variations. these wood ones are cool.
will probably make some for christmas next year. good gift idea for teenagers and adults too.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7034 posts in 1193 days


posted 675 days ago

Cool project Gary,

I think my 13 year old Grandson would enjoy this one.

I think I’ll make one with multiple colored woods.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View baredog's profile

baredog

5 posts in 686 days


posted 671 days ago

i made me a set of these..it took a little time i first used my table saw to cut some oak stock to 3/4 and then used my hand miter box to cut down to 3/4 cube…if any one else has otter idea’s like this plz. post

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 882 days


posted 670 days ago

I just used a table saw for all the cutting, and the router table for the edges.

How about a picture of yours?

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View mot's profile

mot

4901 posts in 930 days


posted 666 days ago

Really neat, Gary! Really neat!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View MorningWood70's profile

MorningWood70

30 posts in 678 days


posted 659 days ago

I need to make one of those!

-- Eric, www.themorningwoodshow.com

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 882 days


posted 354 days ago

Did anyone ever make any of these?

Christmas is getting close!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View bayspt's profile

bayspt

184 posts in 598 days


posted 354 days ago

Thanks for bringing this back to the pulse. Hadn’t seen these, now they are on the list for x-mas gifts. Love it Gary.

-- Jimmy, Oklahoma "It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm wearing milkbone underwear!"

View Demowen's profile

Demowen

113 posts in 291 days


posted 257 days ago

I made mine today to take to work- break room fun! Thanks!

-- Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish the work of our hands- establish the work of our hands! Psalm 90:17

View mcoyfrog's profile

mcoyfrog

809 posts in 488 days


posted 216 days ago

This is awesome, thanks for the instructions

-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug

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