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Bijections

Source: Mexican Math Olympiad 2015 Problem 2

November 29, 2015
combinatorics2015

Problem Statement

Let nn be a positive integer and let kk be an integer between 11 and nn inclusive. There is a white board of n×nn \times n. We do the following process. We draw kk rectangles with integer sides lenghts and sides parallel to the ones of the n×nn \times n board, and such that each rectangle covers the top-right corner of the n×nn \times n board. Then, the kk rectangles are painted of black. This process leaves a white figure in the board.
How many different white figures are possible to do with kk rectangles that can't be done with less than kk rectangles?
Proposed by David Torres Flores