Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/197 - Economical Dissection

by : $197$

 * Economical Dissection
 * Take a block of wood $8$ units long by $4$ units wide by $3 \tfrac 3 4$ units deep.
 * How many pieces, each measuring $2 \tfrac 1 2$ by $1 \tfrac 1 2$ by $1 \tfrac 1 4$ can be cut out of it?


 * Most people would have more waste material left over than is necessary.
 * How many pieces may be cut from the block?