Browse · MATH
Printjmc
counting and probability intermediate
Problem
In how many patterns can six identical L-shaped pieces, each consisting of three unit squares, be placed to perfectly cover a fixed 3 by 6 board? One such pattern is shown.
Solution
Consider the top left unit square. There are three different ways an L-shaped piece can cover that square:
For the first two cases, there is only one way to place another piece to cover the lower left corner. In the last case, there is no way to place another piece to cover the lower left corner without overlapping the first piece. In both of the first two cases, the two leftmost columns will be covered. So, we can use this logic again, on the top left square which has not yet been covered. We have two choices of how to cover the first two columns, two choices of how to cover the next two columns, and two choices of how to cover the last two columns, so there are total ways to cover the entire board.
For the first two cases, there is only one way to place another piece to cover the lower left corner. In the last case, there is no way to place another piece to cover the lower left corner without overlapping the first piece. In both of the first two cases, the two leftmost columns will be covered. So, we can use this logic again, on the top left square which has not yet been covered. We have two choices of how to cover the first two columns, two choices of how to cover the next two columns, and two choices of how to cover the last two columns, so there are total ways to cover the entire board.
Final answer
8