MathDB
coloring the squares in bw of coordinate plane by lattice lines

Source: 1997 ITAMO p3

January 25, 2020
latticesquare latticeColoringcombinatorial geometrycombinatorics

Problem Statement

The positive quadrant of a coordinate plane is divided into unit squares by lattice lines. Is it possible to color the squares in black and white so that: (i) In every square of side nn (n∈Nn \in N) with a vertex at the origin and sides are parallel to the axes, there are more black than white squares; (ii) Every diagonal parallel to the line y=xy = x intersects only finitely many black squares?