/sci/ - Science & Math

Let Q be "A square formed by four smaller squares: One top left (Q00), one top right (Q10), one bottom left (Q10) and one bottom right (Q11)." We know that Q = 5.

In the picture below we have 4 overlapping Q's. So if we ignored the overlap, we would have 4Q = 20.

Now, let's consider the overlap:
- The top left Q overlaps with its bottom right square (Q11).
- The top right Q overlaps with its bottom left square (Q01).
- The bottom left Q overlaps with its top right square (Q10).
- The bottom right Q overlaps with its top left square (Q00).

Now, when we combine Q11, Q01, Q10 and Q00, we get a single Q (straight from the definition).

Thus the answer is 4Q - Q = 3Q = 15.