Take a chessboard, it has 64 squares. Now cut off any two corner squares which are diagonally opposite.

You are given many rectangular bits of paper which have area equal to that of two such squares kept side by side. The PROBLEM is to cover the modified chess board with such pieces of paper.

No overlapping or folding is allowed. All the pieces should lie on the area of the modified chess board. Is this possible, and if not why?

These types of problems are good for the kiddos. Anytime you can get them involved and use cut-and-paste, I say 2 thumbs up.

Posted by cges on 2002-12-11 08:36:08