This is a well known puzzle. The challenge is to draw through a 3x3 grid of 9 dots using only 4 connected straight lines. If we label the dots from top left to bottom right 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 then the explanation will be easier. The first line must go diagonally down and right from 1 to 9 then top on 9. The second line goes straight left from 9 to 7, and then continues on the rough length of another (imaginary) dot. The third line goes diagonally up and right through 4 and 2, and then continues the length of another imaginary dot. The final line goes straight down through 3 and 5.
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a star drawn with five lines will give you 10 dots on 5 lines with only 4 dots on each line. (or) simply draw a pentagon and put a cap ( a inverted 'V') on all sides.
To connect 9 dots with 4 lines, you must think outside the box. The key is to draw lines that extend beyond the boundaries of the dots. Start by drawing a line that goes through the first three dots in an L shape, then continue the line outside the dots to connect the remaining dots. This unconventional approach allows you to connect all 9 dots with just 4 lines.
refer http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_make_10_dots_on_5_lines_with_only_4_dots
Here are the 12 dots, labeled so we can talk about them:[1] - [ 2 ] - [ 3 ] - [ 4 ] -[5] - [ 6 ] - [ 7 ] - [ 8 ] -[9] - [10] - [11] - [12] --- Put your pencil down on #9, and don't pick it up until you're finished.-- Draw line-1 up through #5 and #1, and keep going up for a ways,just far enough so you can do the next step with a straight line.-- Draw line-2 slanting down through #2, #7, and #12.-- Draw line-3 straight to the left, through #11, #10, and back to #9.-- Draw line-4 slanting up, through #6 and #3, and keep going fora ways, until you're exactly straight up above #4.-- Draw line-5 straight down, through #4 and #8 .It all depends on the arrangement of the dots.Besides, there is nothing about straight lines, so used curved lines insteaddistribute the 12 dots around the perimeter of a pentagonSince you didn't specify the lines have to be the same length... Arrange the dots in a grid as follows :-OOOOOOOOOOOOThen - starting at he top left corner, draw a 'square spiral' (doesn't matter whether you go clockwise or anti--clockwise) - this will cover ALL the dots AND use only five lines !See Related Link below for a graphic.It all depends on the arrangement of the dots.Besides, there is nothing about straight lines, so used curved lines instead
Put the dots in a general square outline. But make one side have 4 dots and the others have 3. Then go around the outline of the square.