About nine.
8
8
4
Just one if you break it into small enough pieces. (see related question)
You would need 5 toothpicks to spell the word "fat" without breaking or bending any. One toothpick for each letter, and an extra toothpick to form the letter "A".
Tagalog translation of FAT: mataba
This is a popular riddle that should be illustrated for explanation.(see the related link and question)The answers are :It takes 8 if you don't break any, or bend any, and use separate toothpicks to form each letter. (There are 3 in the F, 3 in the A, and 2 in the T.)Only 1 if you break it into pieces. You can also bend it into four equal lengths, then cross the lengths into a star shape as below.Only 3 if you can use the same toothpicks for all three letters. By overlapping the three toothpicks at the proper angles, you can simultaneously form an F, an A, and a T. Place the toothpicks atop each other to form a small triangle in the middle. You will see the letters F, A, and T within the angles formed. The horizontals of the F are, however, oddly splayed and not parallel.It depends on how big you want to make it.
The straightforward answer would appear to be eight, using separate toothpicks to form each letter.(Use 3 in the F, 3 in the A, and 2 in the T.)However, if you can use the same toothpicks for all three letters at the same time, you only need three. (see related link)Using 3 ToothpicksBy overlapping the three toothpicks at the proper angles, you can simultaneously form an F, an A, and a T. Place the toothpicks atop each other to form a small triangle in the middle. You will see the letters F, A, and T within the angles formed. The horizontals of the F are, however, oddly splayed and not parallel.(see related link)
The answer is 8 if no toothpicks can cross and each letter is separate: 3 make the F, 3 the A, 2 the T. It could be 5 if the letters are combined together as a single shape (like a block A, with a possible 5th toothpick from the center down). This is a variation of the standard riddle, which usually just excludes breaking and bending. (see related question)
The word sought may be obsessed (fixated, fascinated).The similar word obese means overweight or fat.
The likely word to defeat (beat, conquer).(To defat is to remove fat from a substance.)