IKMC 2027 - Grades 5-6 - Self-study SET 9 - Thematic Batch 3 Question 22

Jenny makes the bead-and-string grid shown. What is the smallest number of string segments she must cut to leave one closed necklace containing every original bead?



Cutting convention: remove whole connections between adjacent beads, without adding or rejoining strings. The result is one cycle through every bead.