Pentomino Missing Piece Game How to Play

Playing the Pentomino Missing Piece Game

Object

Find the missing pentomino piece that will connect to the four gray pieces on the game board in the way described by the instruction list.

"Sides" refers to joining any side of the missing piece (the plastic pentomino piece) to the other four gray illustrations on the game board.

"Corners" refers to joining pieces only at the corners without touching any sides.

If the piece is also touching sides, the corner is not counted.

Try this example:

Choose Game Board 1 and get out the plastic pentomino set.

Read one of the instructions from the list.

Our example uses: 5 Sides and 2 corners. We will want to find and position a pentomino piece that will fit on the board in this way. There may by more than one piece that fits. Randomly choose a piece and try. The (2) after the instructions indicates that there are two pieces that will work.

Let's choose this piece:

 Place it on the Game Board.

Count the number of sides and corners touching. In our example, arrows point to sides and the circle indicates a corner. The piece in this position has 4 sides and 1 corner  touching. It is not the solution, but the piece still could fit if we turn it a different way. Let's turn it and try again.

The piece in this position has 2 sides and 3 corners  touching. It is not the solution, but the piece still could fit if we turn it a different way. Let's flip it over this time.

The piece in this position has 3 sides and 2 corners  touching. It is not the solution, but the piece still could fit if we turn it a different way. We'll flip and rotate the piece.

The piece in this position doesn't work because it is not touching all four pieces. Let's slide it down one space.

The piece in this position has 3 sides and 2 corners  touching. It is not the solution, but the piece still could fit if we turn it a different way. It will slide down one more space.

The piece in this position has 5 sides and 2 corners  touching. You did it!

Can you find the other piece that works?