Problem #PRU-109441

Problems Methods Pigeonhole principle Pigeonhole principle (other)

Problem

We are given a \(100\times 100\) square grid and \(N\) counters. All of the possible arrangements of the counters on the grid which follow the following rule are considered: no two counters lie in adjacent squares.

What is the largest value of \(N\) for which, in every single possible arrangement of counters following this rule, it is possible to find at least one counter such that moving it to an adjacent square does not break the rule. Squares are considered adjacent if they share a side.