A rectangle $\mathcal{R}$ with odd integer side lengths is divided into small rectangles with integer side lengths. Prove that there is at least one among the small rectangles whose distances from the four sides of $\mathcal{R}$ are either all odd or all even. [i]Proposed by Jeck Lim, Singapore[/i]

A square of side $1$ is divided into rectangles . We choose one of the two smaller sides of each rectangle (if the rectangle is a square, then we choose any of the four sides) . Prove that the sum of the lengths of all the chosen sides is at least $1$ . (Folklore)

Describe a method to convert any triangle into a rectangle with side 1 and area equal to the original triangle by dividing that triangle into finitely many subtriangles.

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]

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

Let $a$ and $b$ be positive integers. We tile a rectangle with dimensions $a$ and $b$ using squares whose side-length is a power of $2$, i.e. the tiling may include squares of dimensions $1\times 1, 2\times 2, 4\times 4$ etc. Denote by $M$ the minimal number of squares in such a tiling. Numbers $a$ and $b$ can be uniquely represented as the sum of distinct powers of $2$: $a=2^{a_1}+\cdots+2^{a_k},\; b=2^{b_1}+\cdots +2^{b_\ell}.$ Show that $$M=\sum_{i=1}^k \;\sum_{j=1}^{\ell} 2^{|a_i-b_j|}.$$

On a $ 30 \times30 $ square board or placed figures of shape 1 (of 5 squares) (in all four possible positions) and shaped figures of shape 2 (of 4 squares) . The figures do not overlap, they do not pass through the edges of the board and the squares of which they are drawn lie exactly through the squares of the board. a) Prove that the board can be fully covered using $100$ figures of both shapes. b) Prove that if there are already $50$ shaped figures on the board of shape 1, then at least one more figure can be placed on the board. c) Prove that if there are already $28$ figures of both shapes on the board then at least one more figure of both shapes can be placed on the board. [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/3/f/f20d5a91d61557156edf203ff43acac461d9df.png[/img]

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?

Jiiri and Mari both wish to tile an $n \times n$ chessboard with cards shown in the picture (each card covers exactly one square). Jiiri wants that for each two cards that have a common edge, the neighbouring parts are of different color, and Mari wants that the neighbouring parts are always of the same color. How many possibilities does Jiiri have to tile the chessboard and how many possibilities does Mari have? [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/7/3/9c076eb17ba7ae7c000a2893c83288a94df384.png[/img]

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]

Let $n$ be a positive integer. An equilateral triangle with side $n$ will be denoted by $T_n$ and is divided in $n^2$ unit equilateral triangles with sides parallel to the initial, forming a grid. We will call "trapezoid" the trapezoid which is formed by three equilateral triangles (one base is equal to one and the other is equal to two). Let also $m$ be a positive integer with $m<n$ and suppose that $T_n$ and $T_m$ can be tiled with "trapezoids". Prove that, if from $T_n$ we remove a $T_m$ with the same orientation, then the rest can be tiled with "trapezoids".

A $45 \times 45$ grid has had the central unit square removed. For which positive integers $n$ is it possible to cut the remaining area into $1 \times n$ and $n\times 1$ rectangles?

For a positive integer $n$, we consider an $n \times n$ board and tiles with dimensions $1 \times 1, 1 \times 2, ..., 1 \times n$. In how many ways exactly can $\frac12 n (n + 1)$ cells of the board are colored red, so that the red squares can all be covered by placing the $n$ tiles all horizontally, but also by placing all $n$ tiles vertically? Two colorings that are not identical, but by rotation or reflection from the board into each other count as different.

Consider a $ 2018\times 2018$. board. An "LC-tile" is a tile consisting of $9$ unit squares, having the shape as in the gure below. What is the maximum number of "LC-tiles" that can be placed on the board without superposing them? (Each of the $9$ unit squares of the tile must cover one of the unit squares of the board; a tile may be rotated, turned upside down, etc.) [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/7/4/a2f992bc0341def1a6e5e26ba8a9eb3384698a.png [/img] Alexandru Girban

You are given a rectangular playing field of size $13 \times 2$ and any number of dominoes of sizes $2\times 1$ and $3\times 1$. The playing field should be seamless with such dominoes and without overlapping, with no domino protruding beyond the playing field may. Furthermore, all dominoes must be aligned in the same way, i. e. their long sides must be parallel to each other. How many such coverings are possible? (Walther Janous)

Is it possible to cover an $n \times n$ chessboard which has its center square cut out with tiles shown in the picture (each tile covers exactly $4$ squares, tiles can be rotated and turned around) if a) $n = 5$, b) $n = 2003$? [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/6/5/8fddeefc226ee0c02353a1fc11e48ce42d8436.png[/img]

How many dominoes can be placed on a at least $3 \times 12$ board, such so that it is impossible to place a $1\times 3$, $3 \times 1$, or $ 2 \times 2$ tile on what remains of the board? Clarification: Each domino covers exactly two squares on the board. The chips cannot overlap.

Can $77$ blocks each $3 \times 3 \times1$ be assembled to form a $7 \times 9 \times 11$ block?

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]

In a $10$ by $10$ square grid (which we call “the bay”) you are requested to place ten “ships”: one $1$ by $4$ ship, two $1$ by $3$ ships, three $1$ by $2$ ships and four $1$ by $1$ ships. The ships may not have common points (even corners) but may touch the “shore” of the bay. Prove that (a) by placing the ships one after the other arbitrarily but in the order indicated above, it is always possible to complete the process; (b) by placing the ships in reverse order (beginning with the smaller ones), it is possible to reach a situation where the next ship cannot be placed (give an example). (KN Ignatjev)

Fix an integer $n \ge 2$ and let $A$ be an $n\times n$ array with $n$ cells cut out so that exactly one cell is removed out of every row and every column. A [i]stick [/i] is a $1\times k$ or $k\times 1$ subarray of $A$, where $k$ is a suitable positive integer. (a) Determine the minimal number of [i]sticks [/i] $A$ can be dissected into. (b) Show that the number of ways to dissect $A$ into a minimal number of [i]sticks [/i] does not exceed $100^n$. proposed by Palmer Mebane and Nikolai Beluhov [hide=a few comments]a variation of part a, was [url=https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c6h1389637p7743073]problem 5[/url] a variation of part b, was posted [url=https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c6h1389663p7743264]here[/url] this post was made in order to complete the post collection of RMM Shortlist 2017[/hide]

A rectangular floor is covered by a certain number of equally large quadratic tiles. The tiles along the edge are red, and the rest are white. There are equally many red and white tiles. How many tiles can there be?

1. Can a $7 \times 7~$ square be tiled with the two types of tiles shown in the figure? (Tiles can be rotated and reflected but cannot overlap or be broken) 2. Find the least number $N$ of tiles of type $A$ that must be used in the tiling of a $1011 \times 1011$ square. Give an example of a tiling that contains exactly $N$ tiles of type $A$. [asy] size(4cm, 0); pair a = (-10,0), b = (0, 0), c = (10, 0), d = (20, 0), e = (20, 10), f = (10, 10), g = (0, 10), h = (0, 20), ii = (-10, 20), j = (-10, 10); draw(a--b--c--f--g--h--ii--cycle); draw(g--b); draw(j--g); draw(f--c); draw((30, 0)--(30, 20)--(50,20)--(50,0)--cycle); draw((40,20)--(40,0)); draw((30,10)--(50,10)); label((0,0), "$(A)$", S); label((40,0), "$(B)$", S); [/asy] [i]Proposed by Muralidharan Somasundaran[/i]

A rectangle $\mathcal{R}$ with odd integer side lengths is divided into small rectangles with integer side lengths. Prove that there is at least one among the small rectangles whose distances from the four sides of $\mathcal{R}$ are either all odd or all even. [i]Proposed by Jeck Lim, Singapore[/i]

Let $n > 1$ be an odd natural number. The squares of an $n \times n$ chessboard are alternately colored white and black so that the four corner squares are black. An $L$-triomino is an $L$-shaped piece that covers exactly three squares of the board. For which values ​​of $n$ is it possible to cover all black squares with $L$-triominoes, so that no two $L$-triominos overlap? For these values ​​of $n$ determine the smallest possible number of $L$-triominoes that are necessary for this.