The tilings of deficient squares by ribbon L-tetrominoes are diagonally cracked

TL;DR

This paper characterizes tilings of deficient odd-sided squares with ribbon L-tetrominoes, revealing a diagonal crack structure and relating tiling counts to domino tilings of smaller squares.

Contribution

It provides a complete characterization of when such tilings exist and describes the geometric structure of the cracks, linking tiling counts to domino tilings of smaller squares.

Findings

Tilings exist only for odd-sided squares.

The crack divides the square into two equal parts.

Tiling counts relate to domino tilings of smaller squares.

Abstract

We consider tilings of deficient rectangles by the set $\mathcal{T}_4$ of ribbon $L$-tetrominoes. A tiling exists iff the rectangle is a square of odd side. The missing cell is on the main NW--SE diagonal, in an odd position if the square is $(4m+1)\times (4m+1)$ and in an even position for $(4m+3)\times (4m+3)$. The majority of the tiles in a tiling are paired and each pair tiles a $2\times 4$ rectangle. The tiles in an irregular position and the missing cell form a NW--SE diagonal crack, located in a thin region symmetric about the diagonal, made out of $3\times 3$ squares that overlap over one of the corner cells. The crack divides the square in two equal area parts. The number of tilings of a $(4m+1)\times (4m+1)$ deficient square is equal to the number of tilings by dominoes of a $2m\times 2m$ square. The number of tilings of a $(4m+3)\times (4m+3)$ deficient square is twice the number of tilings by dominoes of a $(2m+1)\times (2m+1)$ deficient square, with missing cell placed on the main diagonal. If an extra $2\times 2$ tile is added to $\mathcal{T}_4$, we call the new tile set $\mathcal{T}_4^+$. A tiling of a deficient rectangle by $\mathcal{T}_4^+$ exists iff the rectangle is a square of odd side. The missing cell is on the main NW--SE diagonal, in an odd position if the square is $(4m+1)\times (4m+1)$ and in an even position for $(4m+3)\times (4m+3)$. The majority of the tiles in a tiling are either paired tetrominoes and each pair tiles a $2\times 4$ rectangle, or are $2\times 2$ squares. The tiles in an irregular position and the missing cell form a NW--SE diagonal crack, located in a thin region symmetric about the diagonal, made out of $3\times 3$ squares that overlap over one of the corner cells.