The Impossible Triangle! Jacob M. Lightbody ©2015

Materials Needed: 1.) Blank Paper 2.) Ruler 3.) Sharp Pencil 4.) Good Eraser 5.) Patience

Directions: Follow the step-by-step instructions in order to complete the optical illusion. Color Codes: Red Lines: The new lines for each step will appear as red lines. (Draw them lightly because many of them will be erased.) Blue Lines: Lines from previous steps will appear blue. Black Lines: Lines will turn black to indicate that they will appear (permanently) in the final image.

A Final Reminder: Don’t make your lines too dark. (You’ll thank yourself later.)

Step #1: Draw a triangle like the one shown below. Suggestion: Make the base of your triangle parallel to the top and bottom of your paper.

Step #2: Draw a smaller triangle inside the first triangle. Include the crossing lines at the corners. Try to copy the proportions shown below. Important Detail: The lines of the new triangle should be parallel to the lines of the original triangle.

Step #3: Draw a smaller triangle inside the second triangle. Include the crossing lines at the corners. Copy the proportions shown below as closely as possible. Important Detail: Try to keep the width between each triangle uniform (the same.)

Step #4: The new lines will form the outer corners of our impossible triangle.

Step #5: Take a moment to tidy up your lines before we continue. You may notice that the impossible triangle is starting to emerge. Dotted Red Lines Explained: Dotted red lines indicate preliminary lines that should be erased before the next step.

Step #6: Darken the permanent segment of the line and erase the temporary portion of the line.

Step #7:Darken the permanent segment of the line and erase the temporary portion of the line.

Step #8:Darken the permanent segment of the line and erase the temporary portion of the line.

Step #9:Darken the permanent segment of the line and erase the temporary portion of the line.

Step #10:Darken the permanent segment of the line and erase the temporary portion of the line.

Step #10:Darken the permanent segment of the line and erase the temporary portion of the line.

Your Impossible Triangle is now complete!

The End?