Dirock has a very neat rectangular backyard that can be represented as a 32×3232\times 32 grid of unit squares. The rows and columns are each numbered 1,2,…,321,2,\ldots, 32. Dirock is very fond of rocks, and places a rock in every grid square whose row and column number are both divisible by 33. Dirock would like to build a rectangular fence with vertices at the centers of grid squares and sides parallel to the sides of the yard such that

  • The fence does not pass through any grid squares containing rocks;
  • The interior of the fence contains exactly 5 rocks.

In how many ways can this be done?

Source: 2012-2013 Winter Online Math Open

Choose one answer

Type a concept, like “slope” or “photosynthesis”.

↑ ↓ to choose · Enter to openSearch explanations and problems