Problem Solving and Mazes Name(s): _______________________ Problem Solving and Mazes The Basic Maze: Can you solve the maze on the left? Start at the entrance on the left, and try to exit out of the top. As you work, make note of the steps and strategies you used to solve the maze below: One common algorithm for solving a maze is to try a path and go as far along that path as possible. If you hit a dead end, backtrack to the most recent fork in the road where you haven’t already tried all of the options, and then repeat the process with this new path. http://www.uefap.com/speaking/exercise/mazes/mazes.htm

Name(s): _______________________ The Restricted Maze: Travel along the white roads from start to finish. At each intersection, you must follow one of the red arrows. You may only travel in a certain direction only when there is an arrow that follows the same path. For example, You cannot make a right turn from the starting point. Algorithms that involve starting at the end of the puzzle and working backward will make this puzzle much easier! http://www.logicmazes.com/ How is this maze different from the first one? What strategies did you use to solve it?

Name(s): _______________________ The No-Left-Turn Maze: Can you solve this maze? Follow the path to get to the goal, but do NOT make any LEFT turns. At each intersection, you may only go straight or turn right. How is this maze different? What were the strategies you used to solve this maze? Going backward will be helpful at breaking the maze down into smaller, easier goals, but if you do choose to go backward, be sure to restrict right turns instead of left turns. http://www.logicmazes.com/

Name(s): _______________________ The Tilt Maze: This maze is like the party favor toy: you are the red ball and you want to get to the blue box. When you choose a direction to go in, you must keep traveling in that direction until you hit one of the barriers. You must travel in a straight line, and you can only choose a new direction to move in if you’ve been stopped by a barrier. How is this puzzle different from the first three? What new rules did you have to follow? What strategies did you use to solve this maze? Try to keep track of any dead ends you hit, and avoid them as you head toward the goal.

Name(s): _______________________ The Number Maze: Start on the square with a circle in it and try to find a path to the space marked ‘G’. From each square, you can move exactly as many spaces as the number in the square. Every move must be in a straight horizontal or vertical line. What strategies did you use to solve this maze? One algorithm involves starting at the beginning, then writing a 1 in every space you can reach from there, then write a 2 in every un-marked space you can reach from spaces marked 1, etc. Once you write a number in the goal space, then count back down, marking your path.

Name(s): _______________________ Create Your Own Maze: In the space below, draw your own maze and write down a set of rules for your maze next to your maze (it could be as simple as “start here and end at the star” or it could be more complicated!). When you are finished, hand your maze to your partner and go onto the next page. Answers may vary 

Name(s): _______________________ Bonus Mazes: If you finish early, work on the mazes below.