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Follow-on from Tiling a rectangle with just the Y pentomino

Two questions:

  • Find the smallest rectangle that can be tiled with an odd number of Y pentominoes, or prove it impossible

  • Find the smallest rectangle that can be tiled with an odd number of just 'right-handed' Y pentominoes, i.e. no 'flipping', or prove it impossible

Here is a 5x10 tiled with right-handed Y pentominoes, by way of illustration. All that prevents it from being a valid answer to both questions, is the fact that there is an even number of them.

Y5_10_noflip

JMP
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theonetruepath
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  • Need the solutions be proven smallest? This sounds difficult with [tag:no-computers]. – noedne May 23 '18 at 21:48
  • @noedne smallest proof not required, smallest will probably be easiest anyway... – theonetruepath May 24 '18 at 00:33
  • One observation for the 2nd question: both sides of the rectangle must be odd (obviously) but also divisible by 5 (otherwise, gaps will emerge close to the border). – Glorfindel May 25 '18 at 10:58
  • I've stopped searching for a solution to part 2. In fact I believe I have a fairly simple parity/square-numbering impossibility proof if anyone wants to have a go at getting that. I'll post it in a day or two. – theonetruepath May 30 '18 at 08:55
  • ...It still eludes me... not as close as I thought. – theonetruepath Jun 01 '18 at 00:30

1 Answers1

5

This is not really an answer [technically it is] ... but the answer to Q1 can be found here:

15x15 solution

Rubio
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