Domino filled

Suppose a standard 8x8 chessboard has two diagonally opposite corners removed, leaving 62 squares. Is it possible to place 31 dominoes of size 2x1 so as to cover all of these squares?

None of these choices Cannot be determined Yes No

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2 solutions

Rama Devi
Jun 25, 2015

The puzzle is impossible to complete. A domino placed on the chessboard will always cover one white square and one black square. Therefore a collection of dominoes placed on the board will cover an equal numbers of squares of each colour. If the two white corners are removed from the board then 30 30 white squares and 32 32 black squares remain to be covered by dominoes, so this is impossible. If the two black corners are removed instead, then 32 32 white squares and 30 30 black squares remain, so it is again impossible.

Alex Li
Jun 25, 2015

Note that each domino must cover a light square and a dark square. Because there are only 30 30 light squares remaining and 32 32 dark squares, it is impossible to cover all of the squares.

Moderator note:

Simple standard approach.

A good solution.

Rama Devi - 5 years, 11 months ago

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