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11x11 Square

Age 11 to 16
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There's an interesting trick you can do with an $11 \times 11$ square...

It's possible to make five rectangles, each with different widths and lengths, using each of the following dimensions once only: $1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10$, that can be used to tile the $11 \times 11$ square!

Convince yourself that only one of the arrangements below could satisfy these conditions.

                   

 

Can you find the dimensions of the five rectangles which can tile the $11 \times 11$ square?

Can you find all the possible different solutions?
Here different means not a reflection or rotation of another solution.


With thanks to Don Steward, whose ideas formed the basis of this problem.

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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