no of rectangles in n x n square
Source: Netherlands - Dutch NMO 1968 p5
January 31, 2023
geometryrectanglecombinatoricscombinatorial geometry
Problem Statement
A square of side ( natural) is divided into squares of side . Each pair of "horizontal" boundary lines and each pair of "vertical" boundary lines enclose a rectangle (a square is also considered a rectangle). A rectangle has a length and a width; the width is less than or equal to the length.
(a) Prove that there are rectangles of width .
(b) Determine the number of rectangles with width ( integer).
(c) Determine a formula for .