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Latin Colors (Posted on 2011-10-26) Difficulty: 2 of 5
A 5x5 grid has been colored in such a way that any group of cells consisting of a cell and its two, three or four neighboring cells has each of its cells being of a different color. This has been done in such a way as to use the minimum possible number of colors that will accomplish that. Two of the red cells have been shown in the diagram below. Which of the other numbered cells are also red?

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6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25

  Submitted by Charlie    
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Solution: (Hide)
As each 5-square section (a cell and its four neighbors) must have five colors, there must be at least that many. That this is possible is shown by the diagram below for the red in each row, with all five colors in each row rotated left two positions as well.

To place the bottom red square where it is, each row of five colors has been shifted as a whole two positions to the left of the preceding and wrapping around cyclically.

1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25

From Enigma No. 1661, "Latin art", by Bob Walker, New Scientist 27 August 2011, page 30.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
All possible arrangementsSteve Herman2011-10-26 20:20:55
SolutionsolutionDej Mar2011-10-26 14:59:22
Some ThoughtsIt's Greek to me (spoiler)Steve Herman2011-10-26 14:20:11
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