Olympiad problems

2020 New Zealand MO, 3

You have an unlimited supply of square tiles with side length $ 1$ and equilateral triangle tiles with side length $ 1$. For which n can you use these tiles to create a convex $n$-sided polygon? The tiles must fit together without gaps and may not overlap.

1996 Tournament Of Towns, (505) 2

Tags: equilateral , tiles , trapezoid , combinatorial geometry , geometry , combinatorics

For what positive integers $n$ is it possible to tile an equilateral triangle of side $n$ with trapezoids each of which has sides $1, 1, 1, 2$? (NB Vassiliev)

I Soros Olympiad 1994-95 (Rus + Ukr), 10.3

Tags: tiles , combinatorics

Given a square board with dimensions $1 995 \times 1 995$. These cells are painted with black and white paints in checkerboard order like this. that the corner cells are black. Two black and one white cells were randomly cut out of the board. Prove that the rest of the board can be divided into rectangles of size $1 \times 2$ .

2023 Novosibirsk Oral Olympiad in Geometry, 1

Tags: tiles , combinatorial geometry , geometry

Let's call a corner the figure that is obtained by removing one cell from a $2 \times 2$ square. Cut the $6 \times 6$ square into corners so that no two of them form a $2 \times 3$ or $3 \times 2$ rectangle together.

2021 Regional Olympiad of Mexico West, 6

Tags: rectangle , tiles , geometry , combinatorial geometry , combinatorics

Let $n$ be an integer greater than $3$. Show that it is possible to divide a square into $n^2 + 1$ or more disjointed rectangles and with sides parallel to those of the square so that any line parallel to one of the sides intersects at most the interior of $n$ rectangles. Note: We say that two rectangles are [i]disjointed [/i] if they do not intersect or only intersect at their perimeters.

2022 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 1

Tags: combinatorics , tiling , tiles , combinatorial geometry

What sizes of squares with integer sides can be completely covered without overlap by identical tiles consisting of three squares with side $1$ joined together in one $L$ shape? [center][img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/3/f/9fe95b05527857f7e44dfd033e6fb01e5d25a2.png[/img][/center]

2011 May Olympiad, 5

Tags: tiling , tiles , combinatorics

Determine for which natural numbers $n$ it is possible to completely cover a board of $ n \times n$, divided into $1 \times 1$ squares, with pieces like the one in the figure, without gaps or overlays and without leaving the board. Each of the pieces covers exactly six boxes. Note: Parts can be rotated. [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/c/2/d87d234b7f9799da873bebec845c721e4567f9.png[/img]

2021 Durer Math Competition Finals, 5

Tags: tiles , tiling , combinatorics

A torpedo set consists of $2$ pieces of $1 \times 4$, $4$ pieces of $1 \times 3$, $6$ pieces of $1 \times 2$ and $ 8$ pieces of $1 \times 1$ ships. a) Can one put the whole set to a $10 \times 10$ table so that the ships do not even touch with corners? (The ships can be placed both horizontally and vertically.) b) Can we solve this problem if we change $4$ pieces of $1 \times 1$ ships to $3$ pieces of $1 \times 2$ ships? c) Can we solve the problem if we change the remaining $4$ pieces of $1 \times 1$ ships to one piece of $1 \times 3$ ship and one piece of $1 \times 2$ ship? (So the number of pieces are $2, 5, 10, 0$.)

2011 Peru MO (ONEM), 4

Tags: domino , tiling , tiles , combinatorics

A domino is a $1 \times 2$ (or 2 $\times 1$) rectangular piece; namely, made up of two squares. There is an $8 \times 8$ board such that each domino can be cover exactly two of its squares. John places $n$ dominoes on the board, so that each one covers exactly two squares of the board and it is no longer possible to place a piece more without overlapping with any of those already placed. Determine the smallest value of $n$ for which the described situation is possible.

2009 Switzerland - Final Round, 8

Tags: tiles , tiling , coloring , combinatorics

Given is a floor plan composed of $n$ unit squares. Albert and Berta want to cover this floor with tiles, with all tiles having the shape of a $1\times 2$ domino or a $T$-tetromino. Albert only has tiles from one color, while Berta has two-color dominoes and tetrominoes available in four colors. Albert can use this floor plan in $a$ ways to cover tiles, Berta in $ b$ ways. Assuming that $a \ne 0$, determine the ratio $b/a$.

2014 May Olympiad, 5

Tags: tiling , tiles , coloring , combinatorics , combinatorial geometry

Each square on a $ n \times n$ board, with $n \ge 3$, is colored with one of $ 8$ colors. For what values of $n$ it can be said that some of these figures included in the board, does it contain two squares of the same color. [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/3/9/6af58460585772f39dd9e8ef1a2d9f37521317.png[/img]

2008 Switzerland - Final Round, 7

Tags: tiles , tiling , rectangle , combinatorics , geometry

An $8 \times 11$ rectangle of unit squares somehow becomes disassembled into $21$ contiguous parts . Prove that at least two of these parts, except for rotations and reflections have the same shape.

1978 Dutch Mathematical Olympiad, 2

Tags: combinatorial geometry , tiling , tiles , combinatorics

One tiles a floor of $a \times b$ dm$^2$ with square tiles, $a,b \in N$. Tiles do not overlap, and sides of floor and tiles are parallel. Using tiles of $2\times 2$ dm$^2$ leaves the same amount of floor uncovered as using tiles of $4\times 4$ dm$^2$. Using $3\times 3$ dm$^2$ tiles leaves $29$ dm$^2$ floor uncovered. Determine $a$ and $b$.

2018 Iran MO (1st Round), 22

Tags: combinatorics , counting , tiles

There are eight congruent $1\times 2$ tiles formed of one blue square and one red square. In how many ways can we cover a $4\times 4$ area with these tiles so that each row and each column has two blue squares and two red squares?

Novosibirsk Oral Geo Oly VII, 2023.1

Tags: combinatorial geometry , tiles , geometry

Let's call a corner the figure that is obtained by removing one cell from a $2 \times 2$ square. Cut the $6 \times 6$ square into corners so that no two of them form a $2 \times 3$ or $3 \times 2$ rectangle together.

2020 Dutch IMO TST, 4

Tags: tiling , combinatorics , tiles

Given are two positive integers $k$ and $n$ with $k \le n \le 2k - 1$. Julian has a large stack of rectangular $k \times 1$ tiles. Merlin calls a positive integer $m$ and receives $m$ tiles from Julian to place on an $n \times n$ board. Julian first writes on every tile whether it should be a horizontal or a vertical tile. Tiles may be used the board should not overlap or protrude. What is the largest number $m$ that Merlin can call if he wants to make sure that he has all tiles according to the rule of Julian can put on the plate?

1999 All-Russian Olympiad Regional Round, 9.5

Tags: tiles , combinatorics , combinatorial geometry

All cells of the checkered plane are painted in $5$ colors so that in any figure of the species [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/f/f/49b8d6db20a7e9cca7420e4b51112656e37e81.png[/img] all colors are different. Prove that in any figure of the species $ \begin{tabular}{ | l | c| c | c | r| } \hline & & & &\\ \hline \end{tabular}$, all colors are different..

2020 Durer Math Competition Finals, 1

Tags: tiling , combinatorics , tiles

How many ways are there to tile a $3 \times 3$ square with $4$ dominoes of size $1 \times 2$ and $1$ domino of size $1 \times 1$? Tilings that can be obtained from each other by rotating the square are considered different. Dominoes of the same size are completely identical

2010 CHMMC Winter, 3

Tags: tiling , tiles , combinatorics

Compute the number of ways of tiling the $2\times 10$ grid below with the three tiles shown. There is an infinite supply of each tile, and rotating or reflecting the tiles is not allowed. [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/5/a/bb279c486fc85509aa1bcabcda66a8ea3faff8.png[/img]

2015 China Northern MO, 6

Tags: combinatorial geometry , tiling , tiles , combinatorics

The figure obtained by removing one small unit square from the $2\times 2$ grid table is called an $L$ ''shape". .Put $k$ L-shapes in an $8\times 8$ grid table. Each $L$-shape can be rotated, but each $L$ shape is required to cover exactly three small unit squares in the grid table, and the common area covered by any two $L$ shapes is $0$, and except for these $k$ $L$ shapes, no other $L$ shapes can be placed. Find the minimum value of $k$.

2007 Switzerland - Final Round, 3

Tags: tiling , tiles , combinatorics

The plane is divided into unit squares. Each box should be be colored in one of $n$ colors , so that if four squares can be covered with an $L$-tetromino, then these squares have four different colors (the $L$-Tetromino may be rotated and be mirrored). Find the smallest value of $n$ for which this is possible.

2018 MMATHS, 1

Tags: tiling , combinatorics , tiles

Daniel has an unlimited supply of tiles labeled “$2$” and “$n$” where $n$ is an integer. Find (with proof) all the values of $n$ that allow Daniel to fill an $8 \times 10$ grid with these tiles such that the sum of the values of the tiles in each row or column is divisible by $11$.

1990 Austrian-Polish Competition, 8

Tags: combinatorial geometry , tiling , tiles , rectangle , combinatorics

We are given a supply of $a \times b$ tiles with $a$ and $b$ distinct positive integers. The tiles are to be used to tile a $28 \times 48$ rectangle. Find $a, b$ such that the tile has the smallest possible area and there is only one possible tiling. (If there are two distinct tilings, one of which is a reflection of the other, then we treat that as more than one possible tiling. Similarly for other symmetries.) Find $a, b$ such that the tile has the largest possible area and there is more than one possible tiling.

2022 Federal Competition For Advanced Students, P2, 6

Tags: tiles , tiling , combinatorics

(a) Prove that a square with sides $1000$ divided into $31$ squares tiles, at least one of which has a side length less than $1$. (b) Show that a corresponding decomposition into $30$ squares is also possible. [i](Walther Janous)[/i]

2022 Austrian MO National Competition, 6

Tags: tiling , combinatorics , tiles

(a) Prove that a square with sides $1000$ divided into $31$ squares tiles, at least one of which has a side length less than $1$. (b) Show that a corresponding decomposition into $30$ squares is also possible. [i](Walther Janous)[/i]