Have you ever stumbled upon a puzzle so simple it seems to stick with you all day?

Ouadie Rhabbouron

What makes this puzzle even more irresistible is that everyone thinks they’ve followed an infallible logic.  It’s a bit like trying to understand why a soufflé refuses to rise , despite a recipe you think you’ve mastered.

Expert opinion: a clear answer… at the beginning

To settle the matter, several geometry specialists were consulted. All—or almost all—arrived at the same answer: 18 triangles. Their method? Start from the top vertex and observe how many pairs of points can form a base on each of the three horizontal lines. Three levels, six possibilities per level… voilà, 18. Easy peasy.

The explanation is elegant, logical, reassuring. You think to yourself, « Ah, finally! The mystery is solved! » Except it isn’t. The story could have ended there, but the internet never sleeps…

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