Shape Puzzle

Tangram

Arrange seven geometric pieces to form shapes. A classic puzzle from ancient China!

Target: Square
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Chinese Shape Puzzle

Select Shape to Create:

Large Triangle Medium Triangle Small Triangle Square Parallelogram

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About Tangram

Tangram is an ancient Chinese dissection puzzle consisting of seven flat polygons called "tans." These pieces can be rearranged to form thousands of different shapes, from simple geometric patterns to complex representations of animals, people, and objects.

The seven pieces always include: two large right triangles, one medium right triangle, two small right triangles, one square, and one parallelogram. Together, they form a perfect square when arranged correctly.

Dating back to the Song Dynasty in China, tangrams have been used for centuries to teach geometry, develop spatial reasoning, and provide entertainment. The puzzle gained international popularity in the 19th century and remains beloved worldwide.

How to Play Tangram

1

Study the Shape

Look at the dashed outline showing the shape you need to create. Plan how the seven pieces might fit together.

2

Move the Pieces

Click and drag pieces to move them. Select a piece to enable rotation, then use the rotate buttons to turn it.

3

Complete the Shape

Arrange all seven pieces to exactly fill the target outline. Pieces cannot overlap and all must be used!

Frequently Asked Questions

Tangram is an ancient Chinese puzzle consisting of seven flat pieces called 'tans' that can be arranged to form various shapes. The pieces include 2 large triangles, 1 medium triangle, 2 small triangles, 1 square, and 1 parallelogram.
Drag and drop the seven pieces to fill the target shape outline. You can rotate pieces by selecting them and using the rotate buttons. All pieces must be used, and they cannot overlap.
Despite having only seven pieces, tangrams can form thousands of different shapes. The challenge is figuring out how to arrange these simple geometric shapes to match complex outlines.
Yes! Our Tangram game is completely free to play online with no downloads required. Your progress is automatically saved in your browser.
The game is optimized for both desktop and mobile devices. On mobile, tap and drag pieces to move them, and use the rotation buttons to rotate the selected piece.
Tangram originated in China during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). The puzzle became popular in Europe in the 19th century and has been a beloved geometric puzzle worldwide ever since.
There are thousands of possible shapes that can be created with the seven tangram pieces. Traditional puzzles include animals, people, objects, letters, and geometric shapes.
Playing Tangram develops spatial reasoning, geometric understanding, problem-solving skills, and creativity. It's excellent for visual-spatial learning and pattern recognition.

Tips & Strategies

  • Start by placing the two large triangles - they take up the most space
  • Look for obvious corners or edges where pieces clearly fit
  • The parallelogram can be flipped - try different orientations
  • Use the small triangles to fill in gaps left by larger pieces
  • If stuck, reset and try a completely different approach

Why Play Tangram?

Spatial Reasoning

Develops visual-spatial skills

Geometry Learning

Teaches geometric concepts

Ancient Wisdom

1000+ years of puzzle tradition

Free Forever

No payment required

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