Question

The set $G$ is defined by the points $(x, y)$ with integer coordinates, $3 \le |x| \le 7,$ and $3 \le |y| \le 7.$ How many squares of side at least $6$ have their four vertices in $G?$

$125$

$150$

$175$

$200$

$225$

Solution:

$G$ consists of four $5 \times 5$ blocks $G_1, \ldots, G_4,$ one in each quadrant. Any square of side $\ge 6$ uses exactly one vertex in each block, since two points in one block are less than $6$ apart while points in different blocks are at least $6$ apart.

Sliding each block inward by $(\pm 5, \pm 5)$ superimposes them on one $5 \times 5$ grid $G'$ (points with $|x|, |y| \le 2$ ). Each such square maps to either a single point of $G'$ or a square in $G'.$ So the count equals the number of points of $G'$ plus $4$ times the number of squares with vertices in $G'.$

A $5 \times 5$ grid has $25$ points and $50$ squares of all tilts, so the total is $25 + 4 \cdot 50 = 225.$

Thus, the correct answer is E.

2009 AMC 12B Problem 25

Solution:

Problem 25 in Other Years