Gizmodo Monday Puzzle: Impossible Geography

Here ’s a intellect - blowing geographics fact : The northernmost part of Brazil is closer to Canada than it is to the southernmost part of Brazil . Facts like this partly speak to in truth unusual geographic features of Earth ( like Brazil ’s monolithic state country ) but also to how warped our perception can be of our own home . We ’ve develop so wonted to seeing 2D rectangular maps in classrooms , on Risk plank , and on Sporcle quiz , that we sometimes block how disfigured they are . We live on a world , and geometry assures us that there is no way to iron out the surface of a sphere into a flat shape without distorting size and distances . The solution is a populace with geographic inherent aptitude that do n’t match the facts on the ground .

In his terrific book Mathematical Puzzles : A Connoisseur ’s Collection , Professor Peter Winkler commit a whole chapter to geography puzzles . He mark , “ this chapter does not belong in the book … they are here because mathematical teaser fan seem to love them . ” As a mathematical mystifier buff who can barely tell apart Djibouti from Uranus , I concede that Winkler won me over here . His geographic mystifier are universe family .

I ’ve dumbfound three of them below . seek to puzzle out them by inherent aptitude and memory board before consult a globe .

Image: Photo: Shutterstock Graphics: Gizmodo

Did you omit last week ’s puzzler ? Check it outhere , and find its answer at the bottom of today ’s clause . Be careful not to take too far forward if you have n’t solved last week ’s yet !

Puzzle #21: Impossible Geography

Which U.S. state of matter is closest to Africa ?

If you flee due in the south from Key West , Florida , which South American country will you hit first ?

I am in an East Coast U.S. state and I call my supporter who is in a West Coast U.S. body politic . It is exactly the same time of twenty-four hour period for both of us . How is this potential ?

Screenshot: The Simpsons season 26, episode 22 “Mathlete’s Feat”

Screenshot: The Simpsons season 26, episode 22 “Mathlete’s Feat”

The third enquiry require some specialized knowledge beyond introductory geography , but it ’s such a cool fact that I had to include it . It ’s not a antic head . strain to guess the synopsis of the root even without the concrete facts to flesh it out . What types of things would need to be true for such a phone call to take place ?

We ’ll be back Monday with the answer and a fresh teaser . Do you have sex a coolheaded puzzle that you retrieve should be featured here ? Message me on Twitter@JackPMurtaghor email me at[email protected ]

Solution to Puzzle #20: The Simpsons M

Last week’spuzzlecame from a cartoon , yet it was anything but small fry ’s playing period . In the episode , Bart ends up figure the reply in the zig - zag of Homer ’s cutting hair’s-breadth .

Enlarged below for uncloudedness :

knotty to tell apart ! Shout - out to yaksplat for submitting the first correct diagram . Reward yourself with a donut . You definitely do n’t have Homer’spea - brain .

Graphic: Jack Murtagh