Although the same answer was given by many problem-solvers, it is interesting that people saw the triangular parts of the star in different ways. Steve and Matt , Hannah , Emma and Amy all from Moorfield Junior School, found 20 triangles in total. They saw.."12 small, 6 medium and 2 big triangles.

First we counted the little (triangles) inside the star. Then we counted the bigger triangles round the edge of the star. Finally, we counted the two biggest ones that make the star complete."

A different way of describing how they 'saw' the triangles came from Michaela and Kristy from Brancaster School. They explain:

"We counted all the little triangles with 1-unit sides, we found 12 of these. We counted all of the triangles with 2-unit sides, we found 6 of these. We counted all of the triangles with 3-unit sides, we found 2 of these."

20 was also the number of triangles found by Daniel and Matthew , aged 7 and 8, and the rest of the children in room 210 of Lord Dufferin School, Toronto, Canada who worked on the star problem, as well as Ehsan .