Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/349 - Releasing the Stick/Solution

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $349$

Releasing the Stick

It is simply a loop of string passed through one end of a stick as here shown, but not long enough to pass round the other end.

The puzzle is to suspend it in the manner shown from the top hole of a man's coat, and then get it free again.

Solution

Take the loop and pull it through as much of the coat above and below the buttonhole as necessary.

It will then be possible to pass the lower end of the stick through the buttonhole and get it into the required position.

To disentangle it, you reverse the process.

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Solutions: $349$. -- Releasing the Stick
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Answers: $530$. Releasing the Stick