There is a version of this sing simple black bars that makes this illusion much easier to understand. I'd look one up for you but I'm on dialup at the moment and it would take over an hour.

The basic jist is that the over all volume/area of the total mass of leprecans is the same in both pictures. In the second picture you have more leprecans but theyre shorter to account for the mass that makes up the new one.

To prove it to yourself, count the red hair TOPS on all of them. That number stays the same. Look at the 6t guy from the left -- in the first picture he has hair that extends into the upper layer - in the second he does not. Now look at the 12th guy from the left -- his hair was MUCH larger in the top picture. You can't realy account for where the change happens because it happens in small details over the whole thing.

Look up the bar picture, it will really help. This is the same thing -- just with more details. I've also seen it illustrated with computers.

You can also count the tips of their noses. There's only 14 on the top and bottom. The 11th guy from the left lost his.

It's driving me mad, i kind of understand what you guys are saying but I can't pinpoint exactly where the problem leprechaun is!

Just look at the feet. The leprechaun on the far left goes from having feet to not having feet and becoming the 15th leprechaun when he moves to the center. Thus, what was previously 2 parts are now counted separately. (Meanwhile his legs do get a new top half.)

this has been driving me insane for about a week or two - i printed it - cut it out - made an "outlined version" - where its just an outline of the lepricons... - i made a version where they were just egg shapes - and i couldnt totally figure it out. so then i did an online search....
i have discoverered the answer!!!

http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/jblep3.htm

enjoy!

im irish and i find this as an insult!
anyway im of for a pint o guinness

guinness? is what?

AGAIN, everything on this site confuses me

This is very simple.
(From left to right) In the top first original arrangement, the 5th leprechaun (not counting the other two leprechaun's hair)is counted as one without a missing piece in the second arrangement. If you take a close look, part of his knee hangs in the bottom portion. He never gains that bit of knee. If you take another close look at him you will notice that part of another leprechaun's hair is by his feet. This hair is never gained by the owner on the second arrangement. Looking at this it is easy to conclude that the 5th leprechaun is the 15th leprechaun.

the lepprichaun sitting down is the secret.

if you look at every leprechaun in the pic with 15 you'll notice they do not look like a full leprechaun.

if you look closely you'll see that each one seems to be missing just a little bit near the line.

The extra one is the 3rd from the right on top in the second picture, (the one with 15).

acually, I think that it's the 2nd from the right .............*. < Like this. I'm also refering to the bottom picture.

you see, if the banner had been put back together CORRECTLY, there would be 14 leprechauns. you end up with 15 because of the reversed flaps. the extra leprechaun on the last row to the right snt supposed to be there

it doesn't work fully, if you look at the 2nd one on the right in the second picture he doesn't have any arms!!

replying to yemoja guiness is an irish pint and it is a very dark brown liquid with a creamy coloured top. it tastes nice to

you have to cut the top half into 6 peicesas follows first man ,then the next two. and the next 2 then the next 3 then the next 4 and one single last.take the fourth cut one put it first then the 5ththe last one next then the first one then the 2nd and last the 3rd and you have solved it lol i did have fun

the 6th leprechaun on the bottom picture does not extend to the top, whil the 13th leprechaun does not extend to the bottom.

its just like the coach+player illusion, the two bars at the top switch place.

This really wasn't that hard, especially with the black lines outlining it.

Actually, one of the leprechauns (the one that stays on the knee) has just a tiny part of its knee in the lower part of the pic, so when it is without the lower part, it's not needed, and another one (the one with crossed arms) has just a tiny part up, so there is a part up left, with an up part and a down part left, one more leprechaun arise!