Consider the fourteen lines in the plane given by $y=x+r, \quad y=-x+r, \quad$ where $r \in\{0,1,2,3,4,5…

Consider the fourteen lines in the plane given by $y=x+r, \quad y=-x+r, \quad$ where $r \in\{0,1,2,3,4,5,6\}$. The number of squares formed by these lines, whose sides are of length $\sqrt{2}$, is :
  1. 9
  2. 16
  3. 25
  4. 36

Solution

We have, $y=x+r$ $\ldots$ (i) and $y=-x+r$ $\ldots$ (ii) The given lines are perpendicular to each other. perpendicular distance $=\frac{\left|r_1-r_2\right|}{\sqrt{2}}=\sqrt{2}$ $\Rightarrow \quad r_1-r_2=2$ $\Rightarrow$ The difference between the $y$-intercepts $=2$ This can happen for five combinations $\{(0,2),(1,3),(2,4),(3,5),(4,6)\}$ The difference between the $x$-intercepts $=2$ This can happen for five combination the total number of squares $=5 \times 5=25$

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2003

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