Question

If you have 24 square pieces of wood, describe all

the different ways you could make a rectangle by
placing them side by side.
I’m so confused I don’t know what to do

Answer 1

Answer: 11 (or 10 if the square is not to be counted)

Explanation:

Start with 1: If you have 1 piece on the top and 1 piece on the bottom, then there are 24 - 2 = 22 pieces left for the sides, which results in 11 on each side. Continue this with 2 pieces on the top, then 3 pieces on the top, etc. You will eventually see a pattern.

Here are all of the ways you can lay out the pieces of wood to form 4 sides:

1 x 11

2 x 10

3 x 9

4 x 8

5 x 7

6 x 6 --> this is a square. should this be counted as a rectangle?

7 x 5

8 x 4

9 x 3

10 x 2

11 x 1