star puzzle
FAQ - frequently asked questions

FAQ 1. Why isn't the software counting the triangles correctly?

The software probably IS counting correctly, but there are situations that make it hard for you to see what the software sees:

Situation A: The software doesn't count concentric triangles (bigger triangles containing smaller triangles): This is just one of the rules of the puzzle.

In the first image, below, only the 5 triangles that don't contain any other triangles are counted.

In the second image, the large triangle highlighted in green isn't counted because it contains the 2 smaller triangles, one at the top and one in the lower right hand corner:

Situation B: Close but Not Close Enough.

Often, the red bars can be close to creating a triangle but not quite close enough.  So instead of forming a triangle, it's forming a quadrilateral.  For example, the first image is normal sized, where it appears that vertices ABC should form a triangle.  But after zooming in (the second image), it's clearer there is a vertex D that is interfering with the ABC triangle.  The shape is actually a quadrilateral ABCD:

(These "not close enough" situations are often avoided by using the Natural Tolerance Setting.  See FAQ below for more information about Settings.)

Situation C: Triangles are too small for you to see.

When 3 or more lines intersect close to each other, very small triangles can be created.  This is usually because the Math-Perfect setting is used.  Use the Zoom feature to see these better.  (Too-small triangles are usually avoided by using the Natural Tolerance Setting.  By default, Math-Perfect is turned off.  See FAQs below for more information about Settings and Zoom.)

For example, the following images show the upper right hand vertex of the star, intersecting with one of the red lines.  The first image shows a yellow triangle was formed at the intersection, but it's so small it is barely visible.  The second images shows the same intersection zoomed-in, and now the yellow triangle is more visible.  The third image explains how the software found the ABC vertices of the triangle:

Situation D: There is a bug.

Of course it's possible the software has a bug :-), so please contact me at eddie@eddiecaplan.com.  Include screenshots if possible.

FAQ 2. How can I find out which triangles the software is counting?

Click one of the numbered counting triangles on the lower right hand side of the screen.  When you do, the corresponding triangle in the puzzle will be highlighted in blue.  While zooming, if you click on a numbered counting triangle, the view will zoom in to the corresponding triangle.  This is especially helpful when the corresponding triangle is very small.  (See the next FAQ for the more information about zooming.)

FAQ 3. How do I use the zoom feature?

Click on the yellow zoom button in the upper right hand corner to turn zooming on.  The button will change to "zooming..." and the color will change to blue.  Click it again to turn zooming off:

Use your device's usual method to zoom in and out, and pan back and forth, up and down.  E.g., on a touch screen device you usually use two fingers to pinch in and out to zoom; you use one finger to pan.  (It's improbable that you're running Star Puzzle on a device with a mouse, but if you are: use the mouse's scroll button to zoom; click and hold the mouse's left button to pan.)

You will not be able to move the red bars while zooming.

Small circles will appear wherever two lines intersect.  This makes it clearer how the triangles were calculated & counted.  (See FAQ1 above for more information about calculating and counting triangles.)

While zooming, if you click on a numbered counting triangle, the view will automatically zoom in to the corresponding triangle.  This is especially helpful when the corresponding triangle is very small:

FAQ 4. What do the Settings do?

There are two settings:

Setting 1: How Star Puzzle handles math

This setting affects the Tolerances the puzzle's math uses.  (See FAQ1 above for more information about small triangles and close-together intersections.)

These only affect how comfortable you may feel moving the bars and creating triangles:

• The Natural setting (the default) merges together intersections that are close to each other.  This is probably what you would do if you were trying to solve the puzzle with paper and pencil.

• The Math-Perfect setting doesn't merge intersections at all.  It follows wherever the math leads, even if it creates extremely small triangles, like the one in the images in FAQ1 above.

Setting 2: How much the triangles are filled, when found

When triangles are found, they-re filled Yellow.  This sets what percentage of the triangles will be filled.

NOTE:

• Very small percentages (e.g. zero) will turn off the fill entirely.

• Very large percentages (e.g. 90% - 100%) can obscure the ines of the puzzle and make it confusing where the borders of adjacent triangles are.

The default fill is 60%.

FAQ 5. What is the Solution?

I'm happy to show you the solution.  I only ask that you voluntarily make a donation to the charity of your choice.  In the puzzle's help / faq screen, click the solve button for more information:

FAQ 6. I found a bug.  Will you fix it?

Sure.  Contact me by email at eddie@stararcher.com.  If possible, include screen shots.

FAQ 7. Who invented this puzzle?

I don't know.  I've been aware of it, shown to me by a friend, since ~2003-2004.  In 2004 I (as Star Archer) implemented a Flash version.  Since then, I haven't been able to find who originally invented the puzzle.

Do you know who invented it?  Please contact me at eddie@stararcher.com and credit will finally be given where credit is due.

FAQ 8.  Legal and other stuff?

• Terms of Use

• Privacy Policy

• Credits