Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/161 - Blocks and Squares/Solution

by : $161$

 * Blocks and Squares

Solution
The smallest number of blocks in each box appears to be $1344$.

The innermost hollow square is $34^2$.

Square $A$ is $50^2$.

Square $B$ is $62^2$.

Square $C$ is $72^2$, with four blocks left over at the corners.

We have:


 * $50^2 - 34^2 = 2500 - 1156 = 1344$


 * $62^2 - 50^2 = 3844 - 2500 = 1344$


 * $72^2 - 62^2 = 5184 - 3844 = 1344 - 4$