Patches #25 Hints & Answer
Patches #25 is solved by covering the whole board with rectangles, one clue per block. We split it into 9 steps below: fix the constrained clues first, and the flexible any-shape clues fall into place last.
Step-by-step solution
- Step 1
The square clue at row 3, col 1 can only be filled one way: a rectangle of area 1 that matches its proportions. Place it now — once it is down, the cells beside it stop being ambiguous.
- Step 2
Work the square clue around row 6, col 2. With 1 cells to cover and a fixed shape, only one rectangle fits without overlapping a neighbour. Commit to it and the board tightens.
- Step 3
Look at the tall clue near row 1, col 1. Its number 2 fixes the rectangle’s area, so draw the block that covers exactly 2 cells around it without touching another clue. Lock it in before moving on.
- Step 4
The wide clue at row 2, col 6 can only be filled one way: a rectangle of area 4 that matches its proportions. Place it now — once it is down, the cells beside it stop being ambiguous.
- Step 5
Work the tall clue around row 4, col 2. With 4 cells to cover and a fixed shape, only one rectangle fits without overlapping a neighbour. Commit to it and the board tightens.
- Step 6
Look at the wide clue near row 1, col 3. Its number 5 fixes the rectangle’s area, so draw the block that covers exactly 5 cells around it without touching another clue. Lock it in before moving on.
- Step 7
The wide clue at row 5, col 5 can only be filled one way: a rectangle of area 8 that matches its proportions. Place it now — once it is down, the cells beside it stop being ambiguous.
- Step 8
Work the tall clue around row 4, col 1. With 3 cells to cover and a fixed shape, only one rectangle fits without overlapping a neighbour. Commit to it and the board tightens.
- Step 9
Look at the wide clue near row 4, col 6. Its number 8 fixes the rectangle’s area, so draw the block that covers exactly 8 cells around it without touching another clue. Lock it in before moving on.