{"id":13229,"date":"2025-10-23T11:43:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T15:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/?p=13229"},"modified":"2025-12-02T15:38:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T20:38:44","slug":"tangram-puzzles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/2025\/10\/23\/tangram-puzzles\/","title":{"rendered":"Tangram Puzzles"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"content\"><!--introduction-->\r\n<p>The tangram is an ancient <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tangram\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chinese puzzle<\/a> with seven pieces.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"5\" hspace=\"5\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/swan_2.png\" alt=\"\"> <\/p>\r\n<!--\/introduction-->\r\n<h3>Contents<\/h3>\r\n<div>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"#3db5dce0-a141-41b5-bd88-7489fe33c966\">Variety<\/a>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"#648fa5d3-20cc-492f-ad27-63a70de5b81b\">Schools<\/a>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"#e9db445c-7131-4081-b417-724d4b368949\">Figures<\/a>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"#7ec0cf40-8bb7-4850-b105-5ed0bb7587a9\">Puzzle<\/a>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"#6c03db5a-f7f7-40b2-a229-a887e7c24d8e\">Kitty<\/a>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"#c9fd510b-b067-4a5c-93e3-5ab67bb07b66\">Swan<\/a>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"#3b9c1dd2-cbf4-452b-a130-782c68b81933\">Square<\/a>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\n<a href=\"#84984d74-8c14-4609-b3e5-d4bca8041ecc\">Web<\/a>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h4>Variety<a name=\"3db5dce0-a141-41b5-bd88-7489fe33c966\"><\/a>\r\n<\/h4>\r\n<p>Tangram puzzles can be made with paper, plastic or wood.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"5\" hspace=\"5\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/wooden_3.jpg\" alt=\"\"> <\/p>\r\n<h4>Schools<a name=\"648fa5d3-20cc-492f-ad27-63a70de5b81b\"><\/a>\r\n<\/h4>\r\n<p>School kids all over the world enjoy tangram puzzles.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"5\" hspace=\"5\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/school.png\" alt=\"\"> <\/p>\r\n<h4>Figures<a name=\"e9db445c-7131-4081-b417-724d4b368949\"><\/a>\r\n<\/h4>\r\n<p>Thousands of figures, like these animals, can be made.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"5\" hspace=\"5\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/animals.png\" alt=\"\"> <\/p>\r\n<h4>Puzzle<a name=\"7ec0cf40-8bb7-4850-b105-5ed0bb7587a9\"><\/a>\r\n<\/h4>\r\n<p>My MATLAB code <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/Tangram_mzip.m\">Tangram<\/a> opens with a screen showing seven pieces, which are called <i>tans<\/i>. There are two large triangles, one medium triangle, two small triangles, one square, and one parallelogram.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"5\" hspace=\"5\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/Tangram_screen.png\" alt=\"\"> <\/p>\r\n<p>The puzzle is interactive. You can move the tans.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"5\" hspace=\"5\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/open_2.gif\" alt=\"\"> <\/p>\r\n<h4>Kitty<a name=\"6c03db5a-f7f7-40b2-a229-a887e7c24d8e\"><\/a>\r\n<\/h4>\r\n<p>The kitty is a newcomer's favorite.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"5\" hspace=\"5\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/kitty_2.gif\" alt=\"\"> <\/p>\r\n<h4>Swan<a name=\"c9fd510b-b067-4a5c-93e3-5ab67bb07b66\"><\/a>\r\n<\/h4>\r\n<p>The parallelogram is the only tans that does not have reflection symmetry. It needs to be reversed with the <tt>flipper<\/tt> button when forming shapes like this swan. The swan at the top of this blog is looking in the opposite direction and does not need its parallelogram flipped.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"5\" hspace=\"5\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/swan_2.gif\" alt=\"\"> <\/p>\r\n<h4>Square<a name=\"3b9c1dd2-cbf4-452b-a130-782c68b81933\"><\/a>\r\n<\/h4>\r\n<p>Here are the starting moves for making a square. You can finish the square yourself by downloading <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/Tangram_mzip.m\">Tangram_mzip<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>Or, if you are not in a do-it-yourself mood and just want the answer, see <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/square_2.gif\">square_2.gif<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" vspace=\"5\" hspace=\"5\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/start_2.gif\" alt=\"\"> <\/p>\r\n<h4>Web<a name=\"84984d74-8c14-4609-b3e5-d4bca8041ecc\"><\/a>\r\n<\/h4>\r\n<p>There are hundreds of web sites about Tangrams. Here are two that I enjoyed.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/ivahilator\/tangram\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/ivahilator\/tangram<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/kubiyagames.com\/products\/tangram-puzzle-two-sets-with-65-challenge-cards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/kubiyagames.com\/products\/tangram-puzzle-two-sets-with-65-challenge-cards<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<script language=\"JavaScript\"> <!-- \r\n    function grabCode_77fb5e5aec1f4947883b34c1ea50f336() {\r\n        \/\/ Remember the title so we can use it in the new page\r\n        title = document.title;\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Break up these strings so that their presence\r\n        \/\/ in the Javascript doesn't mess up the search for\r\n        \/\/ the MATLAB code.\r\n        t1='77fb5e5aec1f4947883b34c1ea50f336 ' + '##### ' + 'SOURCE BEGIN' + ' #####';\r\n        t2='##### ' + 'SOURCE END' + ' #####' + ' 77fb5e5aec1f4947883b34c1ea50f336';\r\n    \r\n        b=document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0];\r\n        i1=b.innerHTML.indexOf(t1)+t1.length;\r\n        i2=b.innerHTML.indexOf(t2);\r\n \r\n        code_string = b.innerHTML.substring(i1, i2);\r\n        code_string = code_string.replace(\/REPLACE_WITH_DASH_DASH\/g,'--');\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Use \/x3C\/g instead of the less-than character to avoid errors \r\n        \/\/ in the XML parser.\r\n        \/\/ Use '\\x26#60;' instead of '<' so that the XML parser\r\n        \/\/ doesn't go ahead and substitute the less-than character. \r\n        code_string = code_string.replace(\/\\x3C\/g, '\\x26#60;');\r\n\r\n        copyright = 'Copyright 2025 The MathWorks, Inc.';\r\n\r\n        w = window.open();\r\n        d = w.document;\r\n        d.write('<pre>\\n');\r\n        d.write(code_string);\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Add copyright line at the bottom if specified.\r\n        if (copyright.length > 0) {\r\n            d.writeln('');\r\n            d.writeln('%%');\r\n            if (copyright.length > 0) {\r\n                d.writeln('% _' + copyright + '_');\r\n            }\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        d.write('<\/pre>\\n');\r\n\r\n        d.title = title + ' (MATLAB code)';\r\n        d.close();\r\n    }   \r\n     --> <\/script>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right; font-size: xx-small; font-weight:lighter;   font-style: italic; color: gray\">\r\n<br>\r\n<a href=\"javascript:grabCode_77fb5e5aec1f4947883b34c1ea50f336()\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;        font-style: italic;\">Get \r\n      the MATLAB code <noscript>(requires JavaScript)<\/noscript>\r\n<\/span><\/a>\r\n<br>\r\n<br>\r\n      Published with MATLAB&reg; R2024b<br>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<!--\r\n77fb5e5aec1f4947883b34c1ea50f336 ##### SOURCE BEGIN #####\r\n%% Tangram Puzzle\r\n% The tangram is an ancient \r\n% <https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tangram Chinese puzzle>\r\n% with seven pieces.\r\n%\r\n% <<swan_2.png>>\r\n\r\n%% Variety\r\n% Tangram puzzles can be made with paper, plastic or wood.\r\n%\r\n% <<wooden_3.jpg>>\r\n\r\n%% Schools\r\n% School kids all over the world enjoy tangram puzzles.\r\n%\r\n% <<school.png>>\r\n\r\n%% Figures\r\n% Thousands of figures, like these animals, can be made.\r\n%\r\n% <<animals.png>>\r\n\r\n\r\n%% Puzzle\r\n% My MATLAB code\r\n% <https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/Tangram_mzip.m\r\n% Tangram>\r\n% opens with a screen showing seven pieces,\r\n% which are called _tans_.\r\n% There are\r\n% two large triangles, one medium triangle, two small\r\n% triangles, one square, and one parallelogram.\r\n%\r\n% <<Tangram_screen.png>>\r\n\r\n%%\r\n% The puzzle is interactive.  You can move the tans.\r\n%\r\n% <<open_2.gif>>\r\n\r\n%% Kitty\r\n% The kitty is a newcomer's favorite.\r\n% \r\n% <<kitty_2.gif>>\r\n\r\n%% Swan\r\n% The parallelogram is the only tans that does not have reflection\r\n% symmetry. It needs to be reversed with the |flipper| button when\r\n% forming shapes like this swan.  The swan at the top of this blog\r\n% is looking in the opposite direction and does not need its\r\n% parallelogram flipped.\r\n%\r\n% <<swan_2.gif>>\r\n\r\n%% Square\r\n% Here are the starting moves for making a square.\r\n% You can finish the square yourself by downloading \r\n% <https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/Tangram_mzip.m\r\n% Tangram_mzip>.\r\n%\r\n% Or, if you are not in a do-it-yourself mood and just want the\r\n% answer, see\r\n% <https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/square_2.gif square_2.gif>.\r\n% \r\n% <<start_2.gif>>\r\n%\r\n\r\n%% Web\r\n% There are hundreds of web sites about Tangrams.\r\n% Here are two that I enjoyed.\r\n%\r\n% <https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/ivahilator\/tangram>.\r\n%\r\n% <https:\/\/kubiyagames.com\/products\/tangram-puzzle-two-sets-with-65-challenge-cards>.\r\n% \r\n##### SOURCE END ##### 77fb5e5aec1f4947883b34c1ea50f336\r\n-->\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"overview-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/files\/swan.png\" class=\"img-responsive attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><!--introduction-->\r\n<p>The tangram is an ancient <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tangram\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chinese puzzle<\/a> with seven pieces.... <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/2025\/10\/23\/tangram-puzzles\/\">read more >><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":13241,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,23,47],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13229"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13229"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13441,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13229\/revisions\/13441"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/cleve\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}