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How many squares in this picture?

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PirateMonkeyCabinet · 36-40, M Best Comment
SW-User
@PirateMonkeyCabinet An explanation was needed because the correct answer could have been a guess without any understanding of it.

Hahaha! Well, there are two people that got the correct answer. You and the other guy. Both of you have a different way of explanation but have the same answer. He could have gotten the BA but you answered first.

Anyways, this is how I find the answer:

1's = 32, 2's = 16, 3's = 6, 4's = 2

Ans: 56
PirateMonkeyCabinet · 36-40, M
@SW-User I guess I was lucky with the timing then.

That's a nice, straight-forward explanation.
SW-User
@PirateMonkeyCabinet Yeah, it was almost like a competition.

Thank you. 😌

SW-User
1, you! Bwhahahahahahah
SW-User
@SW-User Hahahaha, very funny.
SW-User
@SW-User sorry I couldn't resist.
SW-User
I got 60 🤔

Edit: Actually I think I overestimated. 🤦‍♂️
SW-User
@SW-User :') same
Ok, I'm dying to read your "basic math" explanation.
@SW-User I left out 2 4x4 squares which each have 16 smaller squares.
@SW-User 16 2x2 squares
SW-User
@quitwhendone I think you overdid it lol.
SW-User
1 🤨 don't tell me I'm wrong
SW-User
@SW-User Wrong
SW-User
@SW-User no
[image/video deleted]

One perfect green square 👌 😍
SW-User
@SW-User 😅😆
indyjoe · 56-60, M
I counted 40+ before my eyes went haywire...
nedkelly · 61-69, M
Seriously? Its a rectangle
SW-User
@nedkelly 🙂
32, unless you count squares made by joining smaller squares.
SW-User
@quitwhendone Nah it’s basic math
@SW-User If you count the white space, all bets are off.
SW-User
@quitwhendone You don’t have to count the white space lmao.
SW-User
88. @PirateMonkeyCabinet explained all the blue outlines, but forgot the yellow and pink filled ones.
PirateMonkeyCabinet · 36-40, M
@SW-User Technically, you aren't necessarily wrong, but I also don't entirely agree. By all means, if someone has a better answer than me then they deserve to get the best answer. However, this becomes a matter of definition.

If I understand you correctly, you want to define the borders (the blue lines) as separate entities from the fill color within. Thus getting a double count for the squares; once for the border, once for the fill. Again, technically this isn't necessarily wrong but it depends on the definition of the task and what its intended boundaries are.

There are multiple potential definitions which support the answer being 56:
* Consider the border part of each square, so that each fill color + border equals one combined unit, or one square.
* Consider the border a readability enhancer - with the intention of making it clearer where one base square ends and a new one begins - and therefore not count it as part of the squares themselves. Almost as if each colored square is a cardboard box and the lines we see are just the edges of the boxes being visible to us as we look down on them.
* Consider the fill color itself as a readability enhancer. Trying to count a bunch of identical squares next to each other is a great recipe for losing track of where you are when you are counting your way along it. Having some differentiation makes it easier to not lose your count.

I'd wager that most people would consider it as being implied, written between the lines if you will, that the squares and borders would not be considered separate entities for counting purposes.

But again, you're not technically wrong as it as the condition isn't explicitly stated, so with the right definition your answer would probably be correct. That being said, if we're going to go down the rabbit hole of technically correct definitions, there is a ton of potentially correct answers:
* The intersection point between two lines of equal thickness would also be a square in itself.
* Each pixel is also square (unless you have some specialized monitor, or a monitor from a bygone era), so technically one could also count each pixel, each set of 2x2 pixels, and so on.
* But what if you have a low resolution on your monitor, then each pixel might be relatively large. The task doesn't explicitly state I can't subdivide each pixel, so I could start measuring 1 mm by 1 mm squares.

I could probably think up a ton more definitions that support a multitude of different technically correct answers. I'd still say there is an argument for it that common perceptions of the intended definition and method for solving the task follows one of the three ones I laid out as potential definitions for the answer being 56.
SW-User
@SW-User Interesting. Explain?

Honestly, I can see what you mean. But I don't think it is necessary to point out the extra solution of counting those colorful squares since this question is asking how many squares (it doesn't matter if you separate the line of the square or its colors), and by that means, you count the square (the shape that includes both the line and color), not the line nor colors. You count them as a whole.

But it is impressive to figure out that you can add the blue line or the color as a separate bonus to count the square.
SW-User
@SW-User both an area and an outline match the definition of a square. As the caption doesn't specify which to count, we should count both.

@PirateMonkeyCabinet you have a point there, but that takes it yet another step further. My interpretation takes a second definition into account, but still only counts the given boundaries. If you take the freedom to add additional boundaries, there is literally an infinite amount depending on how detailed you want to get.
@SW-User
32 single squares.
16 2x2 squares
06 3x3 squares
02 4x4 squares
56 Total squares
SW-User
@quitwhendone There are only 6 3x3 squares lol
@SW-User Yes, I said I overcounted. I corrected it.
SW-User
@quitwhendone Yes I saw you edit it.
SW-User
SW-User
@SW-User ok last guess 52?
SW-User
@SW-User 54??
SW-User
@SW-User hmm, took me awhile to see 56. good mental puzzle, Anna 👍️
Zeusdelight · 61-69, M
56, I think. I can describe them if you wish.
Zeusdelight · 61-69, M
@SW-User Well, I looked at the individual squares first.

16 outside individual squares.

10 inner squares that make contact or are in line with the outer 16. (2 lines of 3 and 2columns of 2)

6 inner inner squares. The rest of the individual squares.

Thenext size of square is two by two ie 4 blocks.

4 4 block squares on the outside.

12 inner 4 block squares on the 4 x 5 block. I found it easier to count these by pretending I was sliding a 2x2 square across the picture and then downwards.

The next size square is 3x3.
6 3x3 square on that same rectangle (3 each line x 2)

Then the final is 4x4.
2 4x4 square in that same rectangle

SO 16+10+6+4+12+6+2= 56.

Interested to see if anyone has discovered more.

John
SW-User
@Zeusdelight You could have received a BA, but unfortunately, someone has an answer before you. But I will place you as my second BA.
Zeusdelight · 61-69, M
@SW-User Always the bridesmaid:) Thank you for the second best answer:)
fancyboy · 61-69, M
Too many...............
fancyboy · 61-69, M
@SW-User Still above my working class intellect!
SW-User
@fancyboy I don't think so.
fancyboy · 61-69, M
@SW-User Ok, then - 90!
SW-User
50?
SW-User
@SW-User I didn’t count enough lol. Too lazy.
SW-User
@SW-User 50 is wrong actually
SW-User
@SW-User I know lol.
too many to talk about over 40
SW-User
@MarmeeMarch Yes, it is over 40. But what is the exact number?
@SW-User 44
16 plus 16

So there are 36 squares
SW-User
@SW-User yes there fucking is only 36 squares i counted.. People saying 61 n shit are fkn dum af. I got 36 there isn't More than that. that's the true answere
sighmeupforthat · 46-50, M
which ones though?

:P
SW-User
@sighmeupforthat All of them.
SW-User
@Dewms Nah..
@SW-User im just 6 squares away from the correct answer!!!! 😭
At least 53...but I may have missed a few.
SW-User
@MrBlueGuy Nah.
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
SW-User
Oh wait...I found more...61
SW-User
@SW-User Nope.
SW-User
@SW-User Nope.
SW-User
@Rusham Close.

But too late, someone got it right.
SW-User
@SW-User No.
SW-User
SW-User
I only got 46
SW-User
@SW-User Don't worry, not everyone can easily find the answer.
Peppa · 31-35, F
At least 52
PhilDeep · 51-55, M
Lost count because the squares can be various different sizes!
ViciDraco · 41-45, M
60, I think...
SW-User
@ViciDraco Too big.
ViciDraco · 41-45, M
@SW-User at, I see, I double counted some... 56

 
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