2xN
Optimal Domination Numbers
Solutions and Proofs

Part 1 of 3 2xN Optimal Domination Numbers
D(2,N) = the domination number for a board with 2 rows and N columns. D(2,1) = 2 ------------ D(2,2) = 4 D(2,3) = 4 D(2,4) = 4 D(2,5) = 4 D(2,6) = 4 D(2,7) = 6 ------------ D(2,N+6) = D(2,N) + 4 for N >= 2
Part 2 of 3 2xN Sufficiency Proofs
Sufficiency is proved by showing a feasible solution using the domination number of knights. ________________________________________________________ D(2x1) <= 2 x x ________________________________________________________ Extendable solution by repeating the first six columns D(2x2) <= 4 D(2,6k+2) <= 4k+4 x x - - x x - - x x x x - - x x - - x x \---------/ repeats ________________________________________________________ Extendable solution by repeating the first six columns D(2,3) <= 4 D(2,6k+3) <= 4k+4 - x x - - x x - - - x x - x x - - x x - - - x x \---------/ repeats ________________________________________________________ Extendable solution by repeating the first six columns D(2,4) <= 4 D(2,6k+4) <= 4k+4 - - x x - - x x - - - - x x - - x x - - x x - - - - x x \---------/ repeats ________________________________________________________ Extendable solution by repeating the first six columns D(2,5) <= 4 D(2,6k+5) <= 4k+4 - - x x - - - x x - - - - x x - - - x x - - - x x - - - - x x - \---------/ repeats ________________________________________________________ Extendable solution by repeating the first six columns D(2,6) <= 4 D(2,6k+6) <= 4k+4 - - x x - - - - x x - - - - x x - - - - x x - - - - x x - - - - x x - - \---------/ repeats ________________________________________________________ Extendable solution by repeating the first six columns D(2,7) <= 6 D(2,6k+1) <= 4k+2 - - x x x - - - - x x - - - - x x x - - - - x x x - - - - x x - - - - x x x - - \---------/ repeats
Part 3 of 3 All 2xN Necessity Proofs
Necessity is proved by showing that at least the domination number of knights is required to cover a subset of the board. ________________________________________________________ D(2,1) >= 2 o Since no square can be attacked, o all squares must be covered by occupying them. ________________________________________________________ D(2,2) >= 4 o o No knight can cover more than one o-square, o o so it takes 4 knights to cover all 4 of them. ________________________________________________________ D(2,3) >= 4 o o - Same proof as D(2,2). o o - ________________________________________________________ D(2,4) >= 4 o o - - Same proof as D(2,2). o o - - ________________________________________________________ D(2,5) >= 4 o o - - - Same proof as D(2,2). o o - - - ________________________________________________________ Extendable optimality proof by repeating the first six columns. D(2,6k+6) >= 4k+4 o o - - - - Each repeatable 2x2 block requires a separate 4 knights. o o - - - - \---------/ repeats ________________________________________________________ Extendable optimality proof by repeating the first six columns. D(2,6k+1) >= 4k+2 o o - - - - a Each repeatable 2x2 block requires a separate 4 knights. o o - - - - b a-square and b-square each require a separate knight. \---------/ Total is 4 times number of 2x4 blocks plus 2. repeats ________________________________________________________ Extendable optimality proof by repeating the first six columns. D(2,6k+2) >= 4k+4 o o - - - - a a Each repeatable 2x2 block requires a separate 4 knights. o o - - - - a a The right-hand 2x2 block requires an extra 4 knights. \---------/ Total is 4 times number of 2x4 blocks plus 4. repeats ________________________________________________________ Extendable optimality proof by repeating the first six columns. D(2,6k+3) >= 4k+4 o o - - - - a a - Same proof as D(2,6k+2). o o - - - - a a - \---------/ repeats ________________________________________________________ Extendable optimality proof by repeating the first six columns. D(2,6k+4) >= 4k+4 o o - - - - a a - - Same proof as D(2,6k+2). o o - - - - a a - - \---------/ repeats ________________________________________________________ Extendable optimality proof by repeating the first six columns. D(2,6k+5) >= 4k+4 o o - - - - a a - - - Same proof as D(2,6k+2). o o - - - - a a - - - \---------/ repeats ________________________________________________________