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Chessboard Questions
Chessboard Questions
Problems based on grids/chessboards have been asked in the CAT and other MBA entrance exams over the years.
They seem really difficult when you encounter them for the first time but once you get the hang of things they become
really simple. The key lies in understanding the basic concepts involved.
The most common grid structure that we are all familiar with is the chessboard. Let us look at some of the common
questions based upon grid.
Q1. What is the number of squares on a chessboard?
Squares of size 1x1 = 8^2 = 64
Squares of size 2x2 = 7^2 = 49
.
.
Squares of size 8x8 = 1^2 = 1
Total number of squares = 1 + 4 + 9 .. 49 + 64 = 204
You could have also used the formula 1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 n^2 = n(n+1)(2n+1)/6
In this case, you would have got = 8*9*17/6 = 12*17 = 204
Q2. What is the total number of rectangles on a chessboard?
To form a 8 x 8 chessboard, we need 9 horizontal and 9 vertical lines.
If we select any 2 lines from the 9 horizontal lines and any 2 lines from the 9 vertical lines, we will get a rectangle
Total number of rectangles = 9C2 * 9C2 = 36*36 = 1296
Q3. In how many ways can you place 2 rooks on a chessboard such that they are not in attacking positions?
The first rook can be placed in 64 ways
The second rook cannot be placed in the same row or the same column. So, it has 7 rows and 7 columns left for it. It
can be placed in 49 ways.
But the order in which the rooks are placed is not important. So, it will be divided by 2!
Total ways = 64*49/2 = 1568
Q4. In how many ways can you place 8 rooks on a chessboard such that they are not in attacking positions?
Total ways (if the red rectangle was not there) = 10C4 = 210
PQ is the road which has been removed. It would make all the routes which included the road PQ as invalid.
So, all routes consisting of APQB will be invalid
A to P = 5C3 = 10
P to Q = 1
Q to B = 4C3 = 4
Invalid ways = 10 x 1 x 4 = 40
Total valid ways = 210 40 = 170 ways
[CAT 2008] The figure below shows the plan of a town. The streets are at right angles to each other. A rectangular
park (P) is situated inside the town with a diagonal road running through it. There is also a prohibited region (D) in the
town.
Q9. Neelam rides her bicycle from her house at A to her office at B, taking the shortest path. Then the number of
possible shortest paths that she can choose is
Author Ravi Handa has taught Quantitative Aptitude at IMS for six years. An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur where he
studied a dual-degree in computer science, he currently runs www.handakafunda.com.