Once upon a time, a tale of four queens known as the queens of blue, red, green, and pink unfolded. These monarchs resided on four islands, each with its own unique wildlife and vegetation. However, a bitter feud threatened to erupt as each queen sought to conquer all four islands for herself. It seemed like war was inevitable until the wise and peacemaking daughters of the queens intervened with a clever proposal to avoid conflict.
The princesses suggested a compromise that would allow everyone to enjoy the full variety of the islands. They proposed dividing each island into a grid of 20 equally sized plots, with each queen ruling over five plots on each island. To prevent trespassing and border disputes, each queen’s domain on each island would be a single well-connected region. Additionally, the four domains on each island would meet at a single corner to ensure the queens could keep an eye on each other. To maintain peace and prevent outside influence, the maps of the islands would be kept a secret from outsiders.
Intrigued by the situation, I sent my assistant as a spy to gather intelligence. He returned with one complete map and three partial maps, along with a crucial piece of information – on the fourth island, no two regions were the same shape nor mirror images of each other.
With this information at hand, the challenge was set: could you complete the maps of all four islands? The images provided offer a glimpse into the intricate puzzle that needs to be solved to unveil the full layout of the islands.
For those seeking answers, a link is provided to the puzzle answers on the sciencenews.org website. Your thoughts and insights are welcomed, and you can reach out to the team at puzzles@sciencenews.org with any feedback or questions.
As the story of the four queens and their daughters unfolds, the mystery of the islands and their intricate divisions remains to be solved. The fate of the kingdoms lies in the hands of those who can decipher the secrets hidden within the maps.
