2026-01-02
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Case file format — patch placements, tiling analysis, and strategy notes.
Overview
Patches Level 2 is part of our exclusive Patches level track. Patches is LinkedIn's tiling puzzle: partition a 5×5 grid into non-overlapping rectangles — one per clue — matching area and shape hints until every cell is covered. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Easy. Estimated solve time: 3–5 min.
Answer
This board has 7 clues on a 5×5 grid — each maps to one non-overlapping patch.
7 rectangles tile the 5×5 grid (25 cells): clue 1 → 1×1, clue 2 → 2×2, clue 3 → 2×2, clue 4 → 2×1, clue 5 → 2×4, clue 6 → 2×1, clue 7 → 1×4. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once.
Analysis
Case file Patches Level 2: 5×5 tiling puzzle, 7 clue exhibits, area range 1–8 cells per patch. Full partition: 7 rectangles tile the 5×5 grid (25 cells): clue 1 → 1×1, clue 2 → 2×2, clue 3 → 2×2, clue 4 → 2×1, clue 5 → 2×4, clue 6 → 2×1, clue 7 → 1×4. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once. Pattern tag: large-anchor tiling.
Board spotlight: One or more clues demand large rectangles — lock those anchors first because they consume the most territory and constrain where every smaller patch can fit. With 7 of 7 clues showing a numbered area, dimension math often pins down rectangle size before you choose a position on the grid.
General Patches strategy on 5×5: rectangles cannot overlap, every cell must belong to exactly one patch, and each patch must contain precisely one clue at its anchor cell. When a clue shows area 12 and a tall icon, only a few height×width pairs are legal — list them before drawing. After each placement, mentally partition the leftover white space: if any region cannot host its remaining clues, back up and try the next candidate.
Exhibit 1: clue 1, 1×1 at Row 1, column 1. The clue shows area 1, so its patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). The shape icon requires a square. This is the only rectangle that fits the clue, avoids other patches, and still allows a full tiling.
Exhibit 2: clue 2, 2×2 at Row 1, column 2. The clue shows area 4, so its patch must cover exactly 4 cells (2×2 = 4). The shape icon requires a square. Several rectangles fit this clue on their own, but only this one still allows the whole grid to be tiled.
Exhibit 3: clue 3, 2×2 at Row 1, column 4. The clue shows area 4, so its patch must cover exactly 4 cells (2×2 = 4). The shape icon requires a square. This is the only rectangle that fits the clue, avoids other patches, and still allows a full tiling.
Exhibit 4: clue 4, 2×1 at Row 2, column 1. The clue shows area 2, so its patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). This is the only rectangle that fits the clue, avoids other patches, and still allows a full tiling.
Exhibit 5: clue 5, 2×4 at Row 3, column 2. The clue shows area 8, so its patch must cover exactly 8 cells (2×4 = 8). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall). This is the only rectangle that fits the clue, avoids other patches, and still allows a full tiling.
Exhibit 6: clue 6, 2×1 at Row 4, column 1. The clue shows area 2, so its patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). This is the only rectangle that fits the clue, avoids other patches, and still allows a full tiling.
Exhibit 7: clue 7, 1×4 at Row 5, column 2. The clue shows area 4, so its patch must cover exactly 4 cells (1×4 = 4). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall). This is the only rectangle that fits the clue, avoids other patches, and still allows a full tiling.
Verdict: tiling set is consistent with every clue constraint. Case closed.
Patches
Shape & area
The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). The shape icon requires a square.
After placing this 1-cell rectangle, 24 cells remain for 6 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
After placing this 1-cell rectangle, 24 cells remain for 6 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (2×2 = 4). The shape icon requires a square.
After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 20 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 20 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (2×2 = 4). The shape icon requires a square.
After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 16 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 16 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 14 cells remain for 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 14 cells remain for 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 8, so this patch must cover exactly 8 cells (2×4 = 8). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall).
After placing this 8-cell rectangle, 6 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
After placing this 8-cell rectangle, 6 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 4 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 4 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (1×4 = 4). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall).
This 4-cell patch completes the grid — all 25 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue.
Solving note
This 4-cell patch completes the grid — all 25 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue.
Verification
Evidence chain supports 7 rectangles tile the 5×5 grid (25 cells): clue 1 → 1×1, clue 2 → 2×2, clue 3 → 2×2, clue 4 → 2×1, clue 5 → 2×4, clue 6 → 2×1, clue 7 → 1×4. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once. Alternative rectangles around any single clue would either double-cover cells or leave holes that cannot host the remaining clues.
Solve path
Phase 1: Partition the 5×5 grid into 7 non-overlapping rectangles — one per clue, matching area and shape hints. Patch 1: draw 1×1 at Row 1, column 1 for the clue at Row 1, column 1. The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). Patch 2: draw 2×2 at Row 1, column 2 for the clue at Row 2, column 2. The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (2×2 = 4). Patch 3: draw 2×2 at Row 1, column 4 for the clue at Row 1, column 5. The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (2×2 = 4). Patch 4: draw 2×1 at Row 2, column 1 for the clue at Row 2, column 1. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). Patch 5: draw 2×4 at Row 3, column 2 for the clue at Row 4, column 4. The clue shows area 8, so this patch must cover exactly 8 cells (2×4 = 8). Patch 6: draw 2×1 at Row 4, column 1 for the clue at Row 4, column 1. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). Patch 7: draw 1×4 at Row 5, column 2 for the clue at Row 5, column 4. The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (1×4 = 4). Complete: 25 cells covered, 7 valid patches — full tiling verified.
Pattern
One or more clues demand large rectangles — lock those anchors first because they consume the most territory and constrain where every smaller patch can fit.
Learn more in Patches Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
7 rectangles tile the 5×5 grid (25 cells): clue 1 → 1×1, clue 2 → 2×2, clue 3 → 2×2, clue 4 → 2×1, clue 5 → 2×4, clue 6 → 2×1, clue 7 → 1×4. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once.
Any 8-cell candidate that overlaps an existing patch or leaves an odd-sized gap is eliminated — the grid must partition exactly.
One or more clues demand large rectangles — lock those anchors first because they consume the most territory and constrain where every smaller patch can fit.
Solution
This 5×5 board has 7 clues, 7 of which specify a required area. Shape hints include square, tall, wide proportions. 7 rectangles tile the 5×5 grid (25 cells): clue 1 → 1×1, clue 2 → 2×2, clue 3 → 2×2, clue 4 → 2×1, clue 5 → 2×4, clue 6 → 2×1, clue 7 → 1×4. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once. One or more clues demand large rectangles — lock those anchors first because they consume the most territory and constrain where every smaller patch can fit. Use the Solution tab for a patch-by-patch reveal with live board updates, or the Solved board tab for the complete tiling.