LinkedIn Patches #130 is a 8×8 Patches board with 8 clues (6 specify area, shapes: 2 tall, 2 wide, 4 flexible). The solution tiles all 64 cells with non-overlapping rectangles — one per clue. Recommended order: clue 1 (4×3) → clue 2 (4×3) → clue 3 (3×2) → clue 4 (1×2) → clue 5 (1×5) → clue 6 (3×1) → clue 7 (3×4) → clue 8 (4×3). Each rectangle must contain exactly one clue cell and match area and shape constraints when given.
Board spotlight: Many clues show a numbered area — when area and shape combine, the rectangle size is often mathematically fixed before placement. With 6 of 8 clues showing a numbered area, dimension math often pins down rectangle size before you choose a position on the grid.
General Patches strategy on 8×8: 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.
Patch 1 (clue 1 at Row 1, column 8): 4×3 at Row 1, column 6. The clue shows area 12, so this patch must cover exactly 12 cells (4×3 = 12). After placing this 12-cell rectangle, 52 cells remain for 7 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Patch 2 (clue 2 at Row 2, column 2): 4×3 at Row 1, column 1. The clue shows area 12, so this patch must cover exactly 12 cells (4×3 = 12). After placing this 12-cell rectangle, 40 cells remain for 6 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Patch 3 (clue 3 at Row 3, column 5): 3×2 at Row 1, column 4. The clue shows area 6, so this patch must cover exactly 6 cells (3×2 = 6). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). After placing this 6-cell rectangle, 34 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Patch 4 (clue 4 at Row 4, column 4): 1×2 at Row 4, column 4. This patch covers 2 cells (1×2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall). After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 32 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Patch 5 (clue 5 at Row 5, column 5): 1×5 at Row 5, column 4. This patch covers 5 cells (1×5). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall). After placing this 5-cell rectangle, 27 cells remain for 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Patch 6 (clue 6 at Row 6, column 4): 3×1 at Row 6, column 4. 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, 24 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Patch 7 (clue 7 at Row 7, column 7): 3×4 at Row 6, column 5. The clue shows area 12, so this patch must cover exactly 12 cells (3×4 = 12). After placing this 12-cell rectangle, 12 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Patch 8 (clue 8 at Row 8, column 1): 4×3 at Row 5, column 1. The clue shows area 12, so this patch must cover exactly 12 cells (4×3 = 12). This 12-cell patch completes the grid — all 64 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue.
Final verification: 8 rectangles tile the 8×8 grid (64 cells): clue 1 → 4×3, clue 2 → 4×3, clue 3 → 3×2, clue 4 → 1×2, clue 5 → 1×5, clue 6 → 3×1, clue 7 → 3×4, clue 8 → 4×3. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once. Pattern tag: area-forced layout. Many clues show a numbered area — when area and shape combine, the rectangle size is often mathematically fixed before placement.