4

Part of 2006 Mexico National Olympiad

Problems(1)

covering a ladder (part of a grid) with n squares

Source: Mexican Mathematical Olympiad 2006 P4

For which positive integers

n

can be covered a ladder like that of the figure (but with

n

steps instead of

4

n

squares of integer sides, not necessarily the same size, without these squares overlapping and without standing out from the edge of the figure ?

combinatoricsgrid