Classification target LinkedIn Patches #109. Grid 7×7. Clue sample 13. Shape mix: 1 square, 2 tall, 1 wide, 9 flexible. Area spread 2–4. Pattern: area-forced layout. Placement vector: clue 1 (1×4) → clue 2 (2×2) → clue 3 (1×4) → clue 4 (4×1) → clue 5 (1×3) → clue 6 (2×2) → clue 7 (4×1) → clue 8 (4×1) → clue 9 (2×1) → clue 10 (4×1) → clue 11 (2×2) → clue 12 (4×1) → clue 13 (1×4).
Board spotlight: Many clues show a numbered area — when area and shape combine, the rectangle size is often mathematically fixed before placement. With 11 of 13 clues showing a numbered area, dimension math often pins down rectangle size before you choose a position on the grid.
General Patches strategy on 7×7: 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.
Sample 1: clue 1, area 4, shape any. 1×4 at Row 1, column 1. After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 45 cells remain for 12 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 2: clue 2, area 4, shape square. 2×2 at Row 1, column 5. After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 41 cells remain for 11 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 3: clue 3, area 4, shape any. 1×4 at Row 2, column 1. After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 37 cells remain for 10 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 4: clue 4, area 4, shape any. 4×1 at Row 1, column 7. After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 33 cells remain for 9 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 5: clue 5, area 3, shape wide. 1×3 at Row 3, column 1. After placing this 3-cell rectangle, 30 cells remain for 8 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 6: clue 6, area 4, shape any. 2×2 at Row 3, column 5. After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 26 cells remain for 7 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 7: clue 7, area 4, shape any. 4×1 at Row 3, column 4. After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 22 cells remain for 6 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 8: clue 8, area 4, shape any. 4×1 at Row 4, column 3. After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 18 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 9: clue 9, area 2, shape tall. 2×1 at Row 5, column 5. After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 16 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 10: clue 10, area 4, shape any. 4×1 at Row 4, column 1. After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 12 cells remain for 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 11: clue 11, area 4, shape any. 2×2 at Row 5, column 6. After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 8 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 12: clue 12, area 4, shape tall. 4×1 at Row 4, column 2. After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 4 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Sample 13: clue 13, area 4, shape any. 1×4 at Row 7, column 4. This 4-cell patch completes the grid — all 49 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue.
Lab result: Area-forced layout. 13 rectangles tile the 7×7 grid (49 cells): clue 1 → 1×4, clue 2 → 2×2, clue 3 → 1×4, clue 4 → 4×1, clue 5 → 1×3, clue 6 → 2×2, clue 7 → 4×1, clue 8 → 4×1, clue 9 → 2×1, clue 10 → 4×1, clue 11 → 2×2, clue 12 → 4×1, clue 13 → 1×4. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once.