Trace a hidden shape

Follow connected edges to find a shape among crossing lines.

Start from a distinctive corner

Find the circled corner, where a vertical edge meets a horizontal one. From the lower-left end, trace up, right, diagonally down-right, then down. The shape may slide to another position, but its size stays the same. Never turn or flip it.

Find the circled corner.
Same shape, shifted right.

Follow the shape through crossings

The shape has slid to the right. Follow edges 1 to 4 in order. When another line crosses your path, keep following the target’s direction. The thicker trace and numbers explain this example; the practice draws every line with the same weight.

Four connected edges.
1234
Trace edges 1 to 4.

Try a new hidden shape

This target is different. Trace right, down, diagonally down-right, then right. Look for all four connected edges in drawing A or B. Keep their lengths and directions, and ignore the extra lines.

New target.
Drawing A.
Drawing B.

Try it

Which drawing contains the complete new target?

  1. Drawing A.
  2. Drawing B.
Show the answer

Drawing B.

B contains all four edges in order: right, down, diagonally down-right, then right. The target has moved down without changing size or direction. A’s diagonal comes too early, so its middle corner does not match.

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