Hooper's paradox

proper noun

A falsidical paradox based on an optical illusion, where a geometric shape with an area of 32 units is dissected into four parts, which are then assembled into a rectangle with an area of only 30 units; however, the triangles of the dissected shape are not quite identical to the triangles in the rectangle.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. A falsidical paradox based on an optical illusion, where a geometric shape with an area of 32 units is dissected into four parts, which are then assembled into a rectangle with an area of only 30 units; however, the triangles of the dissected shape are not quite identical to the triangles in the rectangle.

Origin

Published in 1774 by William Hooper.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Hooper's paradox. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hooper's%20paradox

MLA

“Hooper's paradox.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hooper's%20paradox. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Hooper's paradox,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hooper's%20paradox.

Source: Hooper's paradox on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.