Jaap's Puzzle Page

Magna-Tease

Magna-Tease

Magna-Tease is a puzzle made by Skor-Mor Products in 1973. It consists of 12 red cubes with a magnet stuck on every face. The aim is to arrange them in a 3 by 12 rectangle, without any adjacent cubes' magnets repelling each other.

The number of positions:

The 12 cubes can be ordered in 12! ways, and each has 24 orientations, giving 12!·2412 = 17,493,304,854,426,997,594,521,600 arrangements. This is an overestimate, since some cubes have identical magnet arrangements, and most cubes' magnet arrangements are symmetric. Furthermore this is of course not a realistic measure of difficulty, since you would never continue building if a cube already is repelled by a neighbour. Also, there are 156 solutions.

Solution:

Most magnets have their North pole on the outside. There are however only 17 faces with a South pole. It just so happens that the 3 by 4 rectangle has exactly 17 touching faces, so every South pole must be used up by some adjacent pair.

There are four cubes that have only North pole magnets. These cubes can be easily recognised by testing all its faces against the face of another cube. All its magnets will behave the same way (all attract, or all repel). Once you have found one such all-North cube, you can use it to test all the faces of all the other cubes. You should find the following arrangements:

AmountPictureDescription
4NNNNNo South poles
2NNNSOne South pole
1NSNSTwo South poles, on opposing faces
2NNSSTwo South poles, on adjacent faces
3NSSSThree South poles

There are 156 solutions. Below is a complete list of them.

1
NNNNNNSNNNSNNSSN
NSNSSNSSSSNSNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
2
NNNNNNSNNNSNNSSN
SSNSSSNSSSNSNNNN
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSS
3
NNNNNNSNNSSNNNSN
NSNSSNSSNNNNNSSS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNN
4
NNNNNNSNNSSNNNSN
NSNSSNSSNNNNNSSS
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNN
5
NNNNNNSNNSSNNNSN
SSNSSSNSNNNNNSSS
NNNNSNSNSNNSNNNN
6
NNNNNNSNSNSNNNNN
NNNSNSSSNNSSNSSS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
7
NNNNNNSNSNSNNNNN
SNNSSSNSNNNSNSSS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
8
NNNNNNSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSNNNSNNSSNSSS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNN
9
NNNNNNSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSNNNSNNSSNSSS
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNN
10
NNNNNNSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSNNNSNSSSNNSS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
11
NNNNNNSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSSNNSNNNSNSSS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNN
12
NNNNNNSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSSNNSNNNSNSSS
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNN
13
NNNNNNSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSSNNSSSNSNNNS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
14
NNNNNNSNSNSNNSNN
SSNSSNNSSSNSNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
15
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NNNSNSSSNSSNNSSS
SNNSNNNNSNSNNNNN
16
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSNNSSNNSNNSSS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNN
17
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSNNSSNNSNNSSS
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNN
18
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSNNSSNSSNNSSS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSN
19
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSNNSSNSSNNSSS
NNNNSNSSSNNNNNNN
20
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSNNSSSSSNNNNS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
21
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSSNSSNNNNNNSS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNS
22
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSSNSSNNNNNNSS
NNNNSNSSNNNSNNSS
23
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSSNSSNNNNNNSS
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNS
24
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSSNSSNNNNNSSS
NNNNNNSSNNSSNNSN
25
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSSNSSNNNNNSSS
SNNNSNNSSNNSNNNN
26
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSSNSSNSNNNNSS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
27
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSSNSSSSNNNNNS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
28
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SNNSNSNSNNSNNSSS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
29
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SNNSSSNSNNNNNSSS
NNNSSNSNSNNSNNNN
30
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SNNSSSNSNSNNNSSS
SNNSNNNNSNSNNNNN
31
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SNNSSSNSSNNNNSNS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
32
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSNNNSNSSNNSSS
NNNNNNSSSNSNNNNN
33
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSNNSNSNNNSSS
NNNNNNSSSNSNNNNN
34
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSNNSSNNNNSNS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNN
35
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSNNSSNNNNSNS
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNN
36
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSNNSSSNNNSNS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSN
37
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSSNSNNNNNNSS
NNNNSNSNNNNSNNSS
38
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSSNSNNNNNNSS
NNNNSNSNSNNSNNNS
39
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSSNSNSNNNNSS
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSS
40
NNNNNNSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSSNSSSNNNNNS
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSS
41
NNNNNNSNSSSNNSNN
NSNSNNSSSSSNNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
42
NNNNNNSNSSSNNSNN
NSNSSNSSNNNNNSSN
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNN
43
NNNNNNSNSSSNNSNN
NSNSSNSSNNNNNSSN
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNN
44
NNNNNNSNSSSNNSNN
NSNSSNSSSSNNNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
45
NNNNNNSNSSSNNSNN
SSNSSSNSNNNNNSSN
NNNNSNSNSNNSNNNN
46
NNNNNNSNSSSNNSNN
SSNSSSNSSSNNNNNN
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSS
47
NNNNNSSNNNSNNNSN
SSNSNNNNNSSSNSSS
NNNNNNSSSNSNNNNN
48
NNNNNSSNNNSNNNSN
SSNSNNNNSNSSNSNS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNN
49
NNNNNSSNNNSNNNSN
SSNSNNNNSNSSNSNS
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNN
50
NNNNNSSNNSSNNNSN
NSNSSSSNNNNNNSSS
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNN
51
NNNNNSSNNSSNNNSN
SSNSNNNNSSSNNSNS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSN
52
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
NNNSSSSNNNNSNSSS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
53
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SNNSNNNNNSSSNSSS
NNNSSNSSNNNNNNSN
54
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNNNSSNSSS
NNNNSNSSNNNSNNSN
55
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNNNSSNSSS
SNNNNNNSSNSSNNNN
56
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNNSSSNNSS
NNNNSNSSSNNNNNNS
57
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNNSSSNSSS
SNNNSNNSNNNNNNSN
58
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNSNSSNNNS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNS
59
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNSNSSNNNS
NNNNSNSSNNNSNNSS
60
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNSNSSNNNS
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNS
61
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSNSNNNNSSNSSS
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNN
62
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSSNNNNNNSNSSS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNN
63
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSSNNNNNNSNSSS
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNN
64
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSSNNNSSNSNNNS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
65
NNNNNSSNSNSNNNNN
SSNSSSNNNNNSNSSS
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNN
66
NNNNNSSNSNSNNSNN
SSNSNNNNNSSSNNSN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
67
NNNNNSSNSNSNNSNN
SSNSNNNNNSSSNSSN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSN
68
NNNNNSSNSNSNNSNN
SSNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNS
69
NNNNNSSNSNSNNSNN
SSNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNSNNSS
70
NNNNNSSNSNSNNSNN
SSNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNS
71
NNNNNSSNSNSNNSNN
SSNSNNNNSNSSNSNN
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNN
72
NNNNNSSNSNSNNSNN
SSNSNNNNSNSSNSNN
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNN
73
NNNNNSSNSNSNNSNN
SSNSSNNNSSNSNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
74
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NNNSSNSNNNNNNSSS
NNNSNNSSSNSSNNNN
75
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NNNSSNSNNNNNNSSS
NNNSSNSSSNNSNNNN
76
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NNNSSNSNNNNNNSSS
SNNSNNNSSNSSNNNN
77
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NNNSSSSNNSNNNSSS
SNNSNNNNSNSNNNNN
78
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NNNSSSSNSNNNNSNS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
79
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSNNSNNNSNNSSS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNN
80
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSNNSNNNSNNSSS
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNN
81
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSNNSNNSSNNSSS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSN
82
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSNNSNSSSNNNNS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
83
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSNSSNNNSNNSSS
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNN
84
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSSSSNNNNNNNSS
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNS
85
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
NSNSSSSNNNNNNSSS
SNNNNNNNNNSSNNSN
86
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SNNSNNNNSSSNNSNS
NNNSSNSSNNNNNNSN
87
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNNSSNNSSS
SNNNNNNSSNSNNNNN
88
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNSNSNNNNS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNS
89
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNSNSNNNNS
NNNNSNSSNNNSNNSS
90
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNSNSNNNNS
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNS
91
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSNNNNSSSNNSNS
SNNNSNNSNNNNNNSN
92
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSNSNNNSSNNSSS
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSN
93
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSNSNNNSSNNSSS
SNNNNNNNSNSNNNNN
94
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSNSNNSSSNNNNS
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSS
95
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSNNNSNNNNSNS
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNN
96
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSNNNSSNNNSNS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSN
97
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSSNNNNNNNSSS
NNNNSNSNNNNSNNSN
98
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSSNNNSNNNSSS
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSN
99
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSSNNNSNNNSSS
SNNNNNNNSNSNNNNN
100
NNNNNSSNSSSNNNNN
SSNSSSNNSNNNNSNS
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNN
101
NNNNNSSNSSSNNSNN
NSNSNNSNSSSNNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
102
NNNNNSSNSSSNNSNN
NSNSSSSNNNNNNSSN
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNN
103
NNNNNSSNSSSNNSNN
SSNSNNNNSNSNNNNN
NNNNNNSSSNSSNNNS
104
NNNNNSSNSSSNNSNN
SSNSNNNNSNSNNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNSNNSS
105
NNNNNSSNSSSNNSNN
SSNSNNNNSNSNNNNN
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNS
106
NNNNNSSNSSSNNSNN
SSNSNSNNSSSNNNNN
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSS
107
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSN
NNNSNSSSNNSSNSSS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
108
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSN
SNNSSSNSNNNSNSSS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
109
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSN
SSNSNNNSNSSSNNSS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
110
NNNNSNSNNNNNNNSN
SSNSSNNSSSNSNNNS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
111
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
NNNSNSSSSNSSNNNN
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNS
112
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
NNNSNSSSSNSSNSNN
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
113
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
NNNSSNSSSSNSNNNN
NNNSSNSSNNNNNNSS
114
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSNNNSNSSSNNSN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
115
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSNNNSNSSSNSSN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSN
116
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSNNNSSNSSNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNSNNSS
117
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSNNNSSNSSNNNN
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNS
118
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSSNNSSSNSNNNN
NNNNSNSSSNNNNNNS
119
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSSNNSSSNSNSNN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSN
120
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSSSNSNNNSNSSN
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNN
121
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSSSNSSNNSNNNN
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNS
122
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSSSNSSNNSNSNN
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNN
123
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSSSNSSSNSNNNN
SNNNNNNNNNSNNNSS
124
NNNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSSSNSSSNSNNNN
SNNNSNNNNNNNNNSS
125
NNNNSNSNNSNNNNSN
SNNSSSNSNNNNNSSS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
126
NNNNSNSNNSNNNSSN
SSNSNNNSSSSNNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
127
NNNNSNSNNSNNNSSN
SSNSSSNSNNNNNSSN
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNN
128
NNNNSNSNSNNNNSNN
SSNSSNNSSSNSNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
129
NNNNSNSNSSNNNSNN
SSNSNNNSSSSNNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
130
NNNNSNSNSSNNNSNN
SSNSSSNSNNNNNSSN
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNN
131
NNNNSSSNNNNNNNSN
NNNSNSSNSNSSNSNS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
132
NNNNSSSNNNNNNNSN
NNNSSSSNSNNSNSNS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
133
NNNNSSSNNNNNNNSN
NSNSNNSNNSSSNNSS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
134
NNNNSSSNNNNNNNSN
NSNSNSSNNNSSNSSS
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNN
135
NNNNSSSNNNNNNNSN
SNNSNNNNSNSSNSNS
NNNSNNSSSNSSNNNN
136
NNNNSSSNNNNNNNSN
SNNSNNNNSNSSNSNS
SNNSNNNSSNSSNNNN
137
NNNNSSSNNNNNNNSN
SNNSNSNNSNSSNSNS
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNN
138
NNNNSSSNNNNNNNSN
SSNSSNNNNSNSNNSS
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
139
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
NNNSSNSNSSNSNNNN
NNNSSNSSNNNNNNSS
140
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
NNNSSSSNSSNSNNNN
NNNSSNSNNNNNNNSS
141
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
NNNSSSSNSSNSNNNN
SNNSNNNNSNSNNNNS
142
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
NSNSNNSNNSSSNNSN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
143
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
NSNSNNSNSNSSNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNSNNSS
144
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
NSNSNNSNSNSSNNNN
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNS
145
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
NSNSNSSNSNSSNNNN
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNS
146
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
NSNSSSSNSNNSNNNN
SNNNNNNNSNSSNNNS
147
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
NSNSSSSNSSNSNNNN
SNNNNNNNNNSNNNSS
148
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
NSNSSSSNSSNSNNNN
SNNNSNNNNNNNNNSS
149
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSSNNNNSNSNNSN
NNNNSNSSNNNNNNSS
150
NNNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
SSNSSSNNSSNSNNNN
SNNNNNNNSNSNNNNS
151
NNNNSSSNNSNNNSSN
SSNSNNNNSNSNNNNN
NNNNSNSSNNNSNNSS
152
NNNNSSSNNSNNNSSN
SSNSNNNNSNSNNNNN
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNS
153
NNNNSSSNSSNNNSNN
SSNSNNNNSNSNNNNN
NNNNSNSSSNNSNNNS
154
NSNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
NNNNNSSSSNSSNNNN
SNNSNNNNSNSSNNNS
155
NSNNSNSNNNNNNSSN
NNNNSNSSSSNSNNNN
NNNSSNSSNNNNNNSS
156
NSNNSSSNNNNNNSSN
NNNNSNSNSSNSNNNN
NNNSSNSSNNNNNNSS