2026-01-03
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Strategy coach format — patch placements, tiling analysis, and strategy notes.
Overview
Patches Level 3 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 10 clues on a 5×5 grid — each maps to one non-overlapping patch.
10 rectangles tile the 5×5 grid (25 cells): clue 1 → 2×4, clue 2 → 3×1, clue 3 → 3×1, clue 4 → 1×2, clue 5 → 2×1, clue 6 → 1×1, clue 7 → 2×1, clue 8 → 2×1, clue 9 → 1×1, clue 10 → 1×1. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once.
Analysis
Teaching Patches Level 3: students draw one rectangle at a time on this 5×5 board. 10 clues, 10 with fixed areas. Walk through 10 placements before declaring the grid solved — verify no overlap and no gaps after every patch.
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 10 of 10 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.
Lesson step 1: show why 2×4 at Row 1, column 1 is forced around Row 1, column 3. 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). Ask: what cells are now unavailable for other clues?
Lesson step 2: show why 3×1 at Row 1, column 5 is forced around Row 2, column 5. The clue shows area 3, so this patch must cover exactly 3 cells (3×1 = 3). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). Ask: what cells are now unavailable for other clues?
Lesson step 3: show why 3×1 at Row 3, column 1 is forced around Row 4, column 1. The clue shows area 3, so this patch must cover exactly 3 cells (3×1 = 3). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). Ask: what cells are now unavailable for other clues?
Lesson step 4: show why 1×2 at Row 3, column 2 is forced around Row 3, column 2. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall). Ask: what cells are now unavailable for other clues?
Lesson step 5: show why 2×1 at Row 3, column 4 is forced around Row 3, column 4. 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). Ask: what cells are now unavailable for other clues?
Lesson step 6: show why 1×1 at Row 4, column 2 is forced around Row 4, column 2. The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). The shape icon requires a square. Ask: what cells are now unavailable for other clues?
Lesson step 7: show why 2×1 at Row 4, column 3 is forced around Row 4, column 3. 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). Ask: what cells are now unavailable for other clues?
Lesson step 8: show why 2×1 at Row 4, column 5 is forced around Row 4, column 5. 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). Ask: what cells are now unavailable for other clues?
Lesson step 9: show why 1×1 at Row 5, column 2 is forced around Row 5, column 2. The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). The shape icon requires a square. Ask: what cells are now unavailable for other clues?
Lesson step 10: show why 1×1 at Row 5, column 4 is forced around Row 5, column 4. The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). The shape icon requires a square. Ask: what cells are now unavailable for other clues?
Recap: 10 patches, 25 cells, one partition path. Replay using constrained-clue-first ordering.
Patches
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, 17 cells remain for 9 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Opening tile: After placing this 8-cell rectangle, 17 cells remain for 9 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap. Does any remaining region look untileable?
Shape & area
The clue shows area 3, so this patch must cover exactly 3 cells (3×1 = 3). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 3-cell rectangle, 14 cells remain for 8 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Shape lock: After placing this 3-cell rectangle, 14 cells remain for 8 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap. Does any remaining region look untileable?
Shape & area
The clue shows area 3, so this patch must cover exactly 3 cells (3×1 = 3). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 3-cell rectangle, 11 cells remain for 7 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Area pin: After placing this 3-cell rectangle, 11 cells remain for 7 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap. Does any remaining region look untileable?
Shape & area
The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall).
After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 9 cells remain for 6 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Partition test: After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 9 cells remain for 6 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap. Does any remaining region look untileable?
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, 7 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Mid-board: After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 7 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap. Does any remaining region look untileable?
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, 6 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Corridor fill: After placing this 1-cell rectangle, 6 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap. Does any remaining region look untileable?
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 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Late anchor: After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 4 cells remain for 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap. Does any remaining region look untileable?
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, 2 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Verifier: After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 2 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap. Does any remaining region look untileable?
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, 1 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Gap close: After placing this 1-cell rectangle, 1 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap. Does any remaining region look untileable?
Shape & area
The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). The shape icon requires a square.
This 1-cell patch completes the grid — all 25 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue.
Solving note
Final tile: This 1-cell patch completes the grid — all 25 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue. Does any remaining region look untileable?
Verification
Teach verification by checking units: after all 10 patches, count cells (25 total), confirm one clue per rectangle, and scan for overlaps. 10 rectangles tile the 5×5 grid (25 cells): clue 1 → 2×4, clue 2 → 3×1, clue 3 → 3×1, clue 4 → 1×2, clue 5 → 2×1, clue 6 → 1×1, clue 7 → 2×1, clue 8 → 2×1, clue 9 → 1×1, clue 10 → 1×1. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once.
Solve path
Phase 1: Partition the 5×5 grid into 10 non-overlapping rectangles — one per clue, matching area and shape hints. Patch 1: draw 2×4 at Row 1, column 1 for the clue at Row 1, column 3. The clue shows area 8, so this patch must cover exactly 8 cells (2×4 = 8). Patch 2: draw 3×1 at Row 1, column 5 for the clue at Row 2, column 5. The clue shows area 3, so this patch must cover exactly 3 cells (3×1 = 3). Patch 3: draw 3×1 at Row 3, column 1 for the clue at Row 4, column 1. The clue shows area 3, so this patch must cover exactly 3 cells (3×1 = 3). Patch 4: draw 1×2 at Row 3, column 2 for the clue at Row 3, column 2. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). Patch 5: draw 2×1 at Row 3, column 4 for the clue at Row 3, column 4. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). Patch 6: draw 1×1 at Row 4, column 2 for the clue at Row 4, column 2. The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). Patch 7: draw 2×1 at Row 4, column 3 for the clue at Row 4, column 3. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). Patch 8: draw 2×1 at Row 4, column 5 for the clue at Row 4, column 5. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). Patch 9: draw 1×1 at Row 5, column 2 for the clue at Row 5, column 2. The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). Patch 10: draw 1×1 at Row 5, column 4 for the clue at Row 5, column 4. The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). Complete: 25 cells covered, 10 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
This board uses 3 square, 5 tall, 2 wide. Shape icons restrict width and height before you drag — list legal dimensions for each clue before drawing.
10 clues show a number. Multiply height×width before placing — mismatched area is the fastest way to break a Patches solve.
Before celebrating, count: 10 patches, 25 cells, zero overlap. 10 rectangles tile the 5×5 grid (25 cells): clue 1 → 2×4, clue 2 → 3×1, clue 3 → 3×1, clue 4 → 1×2, clue 5 → 2×1, clue 6 → 1×1, clue 7 → 2×1, clue 8 → 2×1, clue 9 → 1×1, clue 10 → 1×1. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once.
Solution
This 5×5 board has 10 clues, 10 of which specify a required area. Shape hints include wide, tall, square proportions. 10 rectangles tile the 5×5 grid (25 cells): clue 1 → 2×4, clue 2 → 3×1, clue 3 → 3×1, clue 4 → 1×2, clue 5 → 2×1, clue 6 → 1×1, clue 7 → 2×1, clue 8 → 2×1, clue 9 → 1×1, clue 10 → 1×1. 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.