Lateral Thinking #07- Cutting Links -

A jeweler is asked to join four small 3-link chains (shown on the left) into a large circular 12-link chain. In order to join two closed links, one of the links needs to be cut, placed onto the other link, and then closed.

The clever jeweler finds a creative way to make the circular chain while cutting as few links as possible. How many links does he cut and what does he do?