Arrangements
Is it possible to place 2 counters on the 3 by 3 grid so that there
is an even number of counters in every row and every column? How
about if you have 3 counters or 4 counters or....?
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Problem
In a 3 by 3 grid, it is possible to place some counters on the grid so that there is an even number of counters in every row and every column. (We are taking zero as an even number.)
For which numbers of counters is this possible?
You may like to use this interactivity to explore your ideas.
Getting Started
Once you have put one counter on the grid, where should you place the next one/s?
Student Solutions
Well done to Jeremy from the Raffles Institution in Singapore for your well-reasoned solution:
It is only possible when there are 0, 4 or 6 counters.
Recognize that having an odd number of counters would result in a certain number of rows and columns having an odd number of counters. With this in mind, all examples with odd number of counters can be skipped.
When there are 0 counters, there are will be 0 counters on every square. (Remember zero is an even number!)
If only two counters are placed, at least 2 rows/columns would have an odd number of counters as if two counters are placed in the same row, two columns would have an odd number of counters and vice versa.
Example:
If 4 counters are placed, they can be placed in various positions, as long as there is one empty row and column. If they are placed in 3 rows and columns, there would be certain rows/columns with an odd number of counters.
Example, with counters in 3rows and 3 columns:
Example, with one row and one column empty:
6 is the most number of counters that can be placed as putting any more would result in a line of 3. To do it, fill in all but one square in each row and column.
Example:
Teachers' Resources
Engaging with this problem will help children explain patterns they find linked with important properties of numbers.