MathDB
Painting a Rectangle

Source: 2022 AMC 10A #9 / 2022 AMC 12A #7

November 11, 2022
AMCAMC 10AMC 122022 AMC2022 AMC 10a2022 AMC 12Acounting

Problem Statement

A rectangle is partitioned into 5 regions as shown. Each region is to be painted a solid color - red, orange, yellow, blue, or green - so that regions that touch are painted different colors, and colors can be used more than once. How many different colorings are possible? [asy] size(5.5cm); draw((0,0)--(0,2)--(2,2)--(2,0)--cycle); draw((2,0)--(8,0)--(8,2)--(2,2)--cycle); draw((8,0)--(12,0)--(12,2)--(8,2)--cycle); draw((0,2)--(6,2)--(6,4)--(0,4)--cycle); draw((6,2)--(12,2)--(12,4)--(6,4)--cycle); [/asy]
<spanclass=latexbold>(A)</span>120<spanclass=latexbold>(B)</span>270<spanclass=latexbold>(C)</span>360<spanclass=latexbold>(D)</span>540<spanclass=latexbold>(E)</span>720<span class='latex-bold'>(A) </span>120\qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(B) </span>270\qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(C) </span>360\qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(D) </span>540\qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(E) </span>720