At first glance, this puzzle looks like a simple woodworking problem. A lumberjack named Mike is preparing to cut a large wooden log with his chainsaw. Several black lines have been marked across the wood, showing exactly where he intends to make his cuts. The question seems easy: How many separate pieces will Mike have when he finishes?
But there’s a clever detail that makes this challenge more complicated than it first appears. Some lines cross the circular face of the log, while others divide it along its length. If you count only the visible marks without considering how they intersect, you might arrive at the wrong answer.
The puzzle offers four possible answers: 6, 8, 12, or 16.
Before making your choice, imagine how the wood separates after each cut. Think about the different directions of the cuts and how they affect the final number of pieces.
The secret is understanding how the cuts work together.
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