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It's a trick question, one that is from a famous puzzle.

It is the one that spawned the phrase, think "outside the box."

The puzzle is this.

Nine dots are arranged so that they form a square, three rows of

three dots, equally spaced.

Now, draw four straight lines that run through all nine dots,

all without lifting your pencil from the paper.

Most folks will feel the need to constrain their lines to the imaginary boundaries

that define the "box" although no such rule was stated.

By drawing far "outside the box," the lines are easily executed.

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Wiki User

11y ago

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More answers

Don't assume (unless otherwise advised) that the X must be isolated in the middle of the square. Then, you simply draw one part of the X, go on to draw one side of the square, and continue in that manner until you end up with an X in a square. Easy!

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Wiki User

16y ago
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A way I managed this when attempting this particular brain teaser was to draw the four lines of a box near the edge of the piece of paper, once completing the box you must keep your pencil nib pressed on the line that is furthest away from the edge of the paper, do not lift it off.

Fold the edge of the paper over with your free hand, so that the very tip of the edge of the paper enters the centre of your square and then bring the pencil back across the square line you created earlier until it rests upon the newly created fold, keep the pencil on the folded edge as you move toward the centre of the square. Once reaching the tip of the fold you can release the fold, your pencil now being in the centre of your square without being picked up from the surface of the paper. You can then draw an X with two small lines - Careful not to pick up your pencil until you're finished.

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Wiki User

14y ago
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you need to fold the paper but ive never done it

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Wiki User

15y ago
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i no its really hard to do it or work it out!

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Wiki User

16y ago
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[><] Within the box, draw two "Vees" with the points touching but not crossing.

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Wiki User

16y ago
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Get a pen and draw a X in the box with it.

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Wiki User

15y ago
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its impossible

SIMPLE!!! use a pen

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Wiki User

15y ago
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Gibb

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Anonymous

4y ago
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Q: How do you draw an x in a box without picking up your pencil or overlapping?
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