Hog-Tied

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Two hostages are tied together by their wrists, as shown. Can they separate themselves
without cutting the rope or untying the knots?

Posted: December 11, 2007 Page 1 of 2

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Permission is granted for personal use only.
This puzzle may not be duplicated for personal profit.
Hog-Tied [solution]
Home / Puzzles in Education / Hands On Puzzles / Grade 5 /

The hostages can easily separate themselves. One of the hostages grabs his rope with both
hands so that a loose, untwisted loop is made in his rope on the other side of his partner’s
rope. Then he tucks the loop through the circle of rope around his partner’s wrist, as you’ll
soon discover, it’s only possible to keep the rope untwisted by moving toward one wrist, not
the other, Next, he moves the loop up toward his partner’s fingers. When the first hostage then
passes the loop over his partner’s hand and tucks the loop back through the rope, they are
free.

Posted: December 11, 2007 Page 2 of 2

Copyright © 2007 ThinkFun Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Permission is granted for personal use only.
This puzzle may not be duplicated for personal profit.