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
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D(2,2) = 4
D(2,3) = 4
D(2,4) = 4
D(2,5) = 4
D(2,6) = 4
D(2,7) = 6
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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.
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D(2x1) <= 2
x
x
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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D(2,1) >= 2
o Since no square can be attacked,
o all squares must be covered by occupying them.
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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.
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D(2,3) >= 4
o o - Same proof as D(2,2).
o o -
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D(2,4) >= 4
o o - - Same proof as D(2,2).
o o - -
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D(2,5) >= 4
o o - - - Same proof as D(2,2).
o o - - -
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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