Puzzle answer

Ten circles.

One circle and only one circle can be drawn through any 3 dots.* Find the number of groups of 3 dots that are possible and you have found the number of possible circles. We will make a list of all the combinations and then count the entries in the list.

 5 numbered dotsTo help visualize the problem, draw five dots more or less evenly distributed in a circle. Number the dots 1 through 5. Consider three dots as  being a pair plus one. That might make it easier to see a pattern that can be repeated until all the possibilities have been gone through. The following list is produced by going through all the pair plus one combinations.

The pair 1 and 2, plus dot number 3.
The pair 1 and 2, plus dot number 4.
The pair 1 and 2, plus dot number 5.
The pair 1 and 3, plus dot number 4.
The pair 1 and 3, plus dot number 5.
The pair 1 and 4, plus dot number 5.
The pair 2 and 3, plus dot number 4.
The pair 2 and 3, plus dot number 5.
The pair 2 and 4, plus dot number 5.
The pair 3 and 4, plus dot number 5.

Since the list is 10 items long, the number of cirles possible is ten.


clickable diamond shape Back to logic puzzles
clickable diamond shape Back to Fun Things menu
clickable diamond shape SLICKDITTY home

*Well, almost any. If the 3 dots are in a straight line, then one circle cannot be drawn through all 3 dots.