Geometrical Minima
Logic
Level
3
A figure, given on the grid, consists of a 15-step staircase and horizontal and vertical bases (see the figure). What is the least number of squares one can split this figure into? (Splitting is allowed only along the grid).
The answer is 15.
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1 solution
Note that each step’s corner belongs to some square and no two corners belong to the same square. Therefore the number of squares is no less than 15.