# Hand tiling puzzle demonstrating Eisenstein triple $c^2 = a^2 -ab + b^2$

An Eisenstein triple is related to 60 degree triangles and a special case of the cosine law. But we need not worry about that except to note that a specific example of an Eisenstein triple is $$7^2 = 5^2 - 5\times8 + 8^2$$ which we can rewrite as $$7^2 + 5\times8 = 5^2 + 8^2$$

Which means we can have a puzzle involving eight octominoes and five pentominoes, colored as per the given 9x10 rectangle with missing corner.

1. Arrange the five blue pentominoes into a 5x5 square

2. Arrange the five orange octominoes into a 5x8 rectangle

3. Arrange the five blue pentominoes plus the three pink octominoes into a 7x7 square

4. Arrange the five orange plus three pink octominoes into an 8x8 square.

All these have a single solution (ignoring rotations and reflections). You are allowed to flip pieces over. And to keep things simple the color on the other side is the same. Using a computer will just spoil it for you, these are at a 'hand tiling' difficulty level.

Bonus question:

1. Arrange all 13 pieces into a 9x10 with missing corner, like the diagram here, but in such a way that each color forms a single connected area. Touching at a corner is not touching in this instance. There are seven ways to do this (ignoring R&R as usual). If you feel that you haven't done enough, find all seven.

Finished Task 3 (what a doozy)

Finished Task 4 (easier than 3)

• Nice going. These aren't easy. you're right. I hadn't realised that task 3 would be harder than 4. Answer awarded. – theonetruepath Oct 17 '19 at 23:10