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?

@BloodyDisgrace I did it without folding a paper or taking a pen off it, or using a retractable pen.

You didn't. You might think you did.
But you didn't. :)

@BloodyDisgrace

Also it's Can't be arsed.

I remember this in maths from about 1983. Topology, vertices and Euler. If you've got more than two nodes with an uneven number of vertices, it can't be done in a single line, unless you involve trickery like an extra sheet of paper or like he did in the second video.

Loved those lessons. That's where I learned maths could be beautiful.

prettyLittlefool
Well... you know better what I did than I do :) Yep, you are right, I meant "can't be arsed".

Has the deadline passed? :) You see, the way I did it, is to read your post as crossing the line already drawn is not allowed, but drawing over it again is ok. This way you can draw triangles in the square, not taking the pen off the paper but drawing over the already existing lines. Do you get what I mean?

"steppemum

can I just say, you HAVE to cross over a line already drawn in order to do the cross, it is simply is not possible to draw the second line on a cross without crossing the first line!"

I don't agree. Surely you could draw a v and then an inverted v below it.
I agree the overall puzzle isn't possible but I don't agree with this statement

So you post a question, get many responses, ignore them, offer no thanks and then say another poster is lying when they reply that they have been able to do it.

Well aren't you a delightful individual full of manners and politeness.

Well I'd be interested. You must have had to retrace a line?

It's 'can't be asked' actually!!!

If you can put a roof on it you can do it!

Yes I'm struggling to believe anyone has done it without retracing a line or lifting their pen but apparently so

It's really not asked!!

Please can someone who has done it explsin

Bump

ok, I'll have a bath and then post a picture here. I'm not saying I am right, but it might be a solution.

Do you retrace a line
Surely you know if you're right! Because it can be done

Here's the pic. Can be done in many ways though. I drew the rectangle first (arrows pointing the direction). Then did the triangles, going over already drawn line (arrow 7) once.

That's the assumption I am making, that you aren't allowed to. Op please clarify!
Thanks for explaining

I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be able to go back over a line, otherwise there wouldn’t be a riddle, you’d just be drawing a box with an x in it without lifting a pen.
That’s not hard.

I suspect op meant retrace rather than cross. But I appreciate you've done it without crossing, which a pp did claim was impossible!

well, in any case it kept me away from Brexit. Every little helps!

As some one said to me on another threaf

Is that you Theresa?

If you could go over an already drawn line it would hardly be much of a problem to solve. It cannot be done. I realise that now. You can stop trying @BloodyDisgrace