Given a 3x3 square with 9 distinct entries, can all permutations of the elememts in the square be reached when the only legal operation is to rotate a 2x2 subsquare 90 deg clockwise? (A rotation on the same subsquare may be done multiple times.) If not how many positions are attainable?

Example, rotating the upper left 2x2 square.
1 2 3    4 1 3
4 5 6 -> 5 2 6
7 8 9    7 8 9

(In reply to solution by Charlie)

You are too brainy I didnt understand a word you wrote

Posted by laura on 2004-11-29 16:44:38