Can you solve it? Are you smarter than an architect?

Hi guzzlers,

Today’s puzzle was sent in by a reader who remembers it from his days as an architecture student.

Draw a 3-dimensional picture of a shape that goes through each of these holes, exactly touching all sides as it passes through.

View image in fullscreen

Architects will surely find the answer obvious. The heads of the rest of us will look rather like the house in the picture above, since it requires you to visualise an object in three dimensions, which is a challenge if your brain isn’t trained to do it.

If you want to email me your answer, or post it on Twitter with the hashtag #MondayPuzzle, I’ll send the author of my favourite image a copy of my puzzle book Can You Solve My Problems?

I’ll be back at 5pm UK time with the solution. UPDATE: The solution can be read here.

CORRECTION: The image has been updated to specify that the width and the height of the triangle are one unit. In the original image all the sides of the triangle were 1 unit. While I’m here, I will clarify the question, in response to some of the comments below. The object must be made of a solid that is not elastic and does not squash, and it must fit through each of the holes such that when it is going through each hole it is touching every point on the inside of that hole.

I set a puzzle here every two weeks on a Monday. Send me your email if you want me to alert you each time I post a new one. I’m always on the look-out for great puzzles. If you would like to suggest one, email me.

My puzzle book Can You Solve My Problems? is just out in paperback.