The document discusses solving a puzzle to connect nine points with no more than four straight lines without lifting your writing instrument. It provides tips to not make assumptions, such as that the lines must pass through dot centers, be thin, or stay within the paper edges. Non-traditional solutions are suggested like ripping or creasing the paper to connect all nine points with fewer than four lines.

1. Find the best solution to connect the nine points
together with no more than four straight lines
without lifting your writing instrument.

2. What
assumptions
are you making?
Henry Dudeney
was born 144 years ago – 10th April 1857

3. If you do not assume that you cannot extend your
lines beyond the imaginary square formed by the
box the puzzle becomes easier to solve.

4. “Everything
“that can be invented
“has been invented.”
Charles H. Duell
Commissioner of U.S. Office of Patents,
urging President William McKinley
to abolish his office, 1899

5. Don’t assume that the lines must pass
through the center of the dots.

6. Don’t assume that the line
must be thin.

7. Just to prove I can do it with two lines.

8. Don’t assume that the paper must be flat.

9. If you rip the paper into nine segments,
you can stack them
and poke your point through all at once.

10. Don’t assume that you cannot
crease the paper.

11. Don’t assume that
the lines cannot extend beyond
the edge of the paper.

12. Don’t assume that you cannot rip the paper.