An edge-matching puzzle is a type of tiling puzzle involving tiling an area with (typically regular) polygons whose edges are distinguished with colours or patterns, in such a way that the edges of adjacent tiles match.
Edge-matching puzzles are known to be NP-complete, and capable of conversion to and from equivalent jigsaw puzzles and polyomino packing puzzle.[1]
The first edge-matching puzzles were patented in the U.S. by E. L. Thurston in 1892.[2] Current examples of commercial edge-matching puzzles include the Eternity II puzzle, Tantrix, Kadon Enterprises' range of edge-matching puzzles, and the Edge Match Puzzles iPhone app.
- ^ Erik D. Demaine, Martin L. Demaine. "Jigsaw Puzzles, Edge Matching, and Polyomino Packing: Connections and Complexity" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-08-12.
- ^ "Rob's puzzle page: Edge Matching". Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2007-08-12.