To think this simply can't be done?!

[prettyLittlefool]

Help. I have to solve this problem by tonight.
I need to draw this shape without taking the pen off the paper or crossing a line already drawn. Can anybody help?

i'm sure the actual puzzle has the roof on top.

Ellisandra
Thanks for the link. 👍👍

I don't think you can do it without the roof.

With the roof, it is possible. Without, it is not, as far as I can tell.

but even with the roof, you need to cross the two lones of the X and the OP says you are not allowed to cross a line already drawn.

OP, I think you have some of the instructions wrong!

You can do it without crossing the lines to make an 'x' if you think of it in terms of completing triangles. But you can't finish the final triangle (the top of the box) without a roof.

Doesn't it usually look like a house ?

Ellisandra that second link is genius. I’m hoping I remember it, so I can amaze people at a suitable time later on life, but don’t think I will

prettyLittlefool what’s the urgency? Or are you not coming back?

Definitely needs the roof to work properly.

Aibu?

When I've come across this in the past the solution has involved going outside the shape, and is followed by some cheese about thinking outside of the box

It's a case of thinking laterally, using ideas. The way to do it is use 2 pieces of paper and moving the pen onto the other piece to move it where you want to go. I understand that may not make sense but there is method to my madness.
Thinking positively also helps....

You can do it without "crossing" on the cross - but only if it has a roof.

Well, that’s 10 minutes of my life I’ll never get back 🤣

To draw a shape with one line there must be a maximum of two points with an odd number of joining lines. This diagram has four (the four corners, which each have 3 lines joining) so can't be done.

I used to know the answer to this. We did it at school 40 odd years ago....I can't remember!!

You ca only do it by adding the roof bit.

Maybe jigsaw is holding the OP hostage.
She’s probably sawing her foot off right now.

Thanks to everyone. I realise now it cannot be done. I've been had.

Can’t be done without folding the papet

It can be done.

My bad. I used the same line twice. I'm gonna be here a while 😂😂

I spent hours trying to do this when I was about 6, many decades ago.

@statisticallychallenged we've obviously been on similar courses with this wonderful icebreaker.

The version I've seem also had one line outside of the shape. Can't remember how now.

I did it without folding a paper or taking a pen off it, or using a retractable pen. Given how polite you've shown yourself to be, I can be arsed to show.

@ bloodydisgrace