Here is a 8X8 square containing numbers 1 to 5 repeated four times. Can you divide the square into four similar shaped pieces such that each piece contains only one set of five numbers?

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| 1 |   |   |   |   |   |   | 1 | 
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| 4 | 3 |   |   | 4 |   |   |   | 
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|   |   |   |   | 5 |   |   | 2 | 
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|   |   |   |   | 5 |   |   | 2 | 
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| 3 |   |   | 5 | 5 |   |   |   | 
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|   |   |   | 3 |   |   |   |   | 
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| 4 |   | 2 | 2 |   |   |   |   | 
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| 1 |   |   |   |   | 3 | 4 | 1 | 
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(In reply to A hint by Salil)

Salil, I think this hint was a bit early, however, I had begun to look precisely there, colour coding those 4 centre squares.

Then one is forced to take into account the remaining 5, the position of the 2's and rationalising the 3 within the central area.

Edited on August 24, 2006, 10:26 pm

Posted by brianjn on 2006-08-24 22:26:13