Can a square having a side length of 2.1 be completely covered by seven squares each having a side length of 1?
What is the longest possible side length of the square satisfying the given conditions?

Provide adequate reasoning for your answer.

Place four unit squares in a 2x2 arrangement based at one of the corners.  Place the fifth unit square in the diagonally opposite corner.  This leaves two 0.1x1.1 strips to cover.  The last two unit squares can be rotated 45 degrees to cover the strips.

Posted by Brian Smith on 2016-06-24 11:03:33