A rectangular grid of squares has rows and columns. Each square has room for two numbers. Horace and Vera each fill in the grid by putting the numbers from through into the squares. Horace fills the grid horizontally: he puts through in order from left to right into row , puts through into row in order from left to right, and continues similarly through row . Vera fills the grid vertically: she puts through in order from top to bottom into column , then through into column in order from top to bottom, and continues similarly through column . How many squares get two copies of the same number?
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Problem © Mathematical Association of America (MAA), American Mathematics Competitions. Reproduced for non-commercial educational use. Solution and commentary are original to this site.