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LinkedIn · Patches

LinkedIn Patches #212 answer — October 15, 2026

Unofficial hints. Not affiliated with LinkedIn.

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  1. 1A first footholdShow hint
  2. 2Halfway thereShow hint
  3. 3Solve it step by stepShow hint

    Rows count from the top and columns from the left. Sizes read height × width, so a 1×4 strip lies along a row and a 4×1 strip runs down a column.

    1. Only the 5 in row 8, column 5 can reach the cell in row 4, column 5, so its patch must cover it. Only one of its possible patches does: the 5×1 strip from row 4 to row 8 of column 5.
    2. The 5 in row 1, column 4 has two possible patches left. If it took the 5×1 strip from row 1 to row 5 of column 4, the 5 in row 3, column 5 would have no room left. So its patch is the 1×5 strip from column 1 to column 5 of row 1.
    3. The 3 in row 1, column 6 has two possible patches left. If it took the 3×1 strip from row 1 to row 3 of column 6, the 5 in row 3, column 5 would have to take the 1×5 strip from column 1 to column 5 of row 3, and then the 5 in row 4, column 3 would have no room left. So its patch is the 1×3 strip from column 6 to column 8 of row 1.
    4. The 4 in row 2, column 8 has two possible patches left. If it took the 2×2 square from row 2, column 7 to row 3, column 8, the 4 in row 2, column 2 would have to take the 1×4 strip from column 2 to column 5 of row 2, and then nothing could cover the cell in row 2, column 1. So its patch is the 1×4 strip from column 5 to column 8 of row 2.
    5. The 5 in row 5, column 6 has two possible patches left. If it took the 5×1 strip from row 3 to row 7 of column 6, nothing could cover the cell in row 8, column 6. So its patch is the 5×1 strip from row 4 to row 8 of column 6.
    6. The 5 in row 4, column 3 has two possible patches left. If it took the 5×1 strip from row 2 to row 6 of column 3, the 5 in row 3, column 5 would have to take the 1×5 strip from column 4 to column 8 of row 3, and then nothing could cover the cell in row 2, column 4. So its patch is the 5×1 strip from row 3 to row 7 of column 3.
    7. The 5 in row 3, column 5 can only be a 1×5 strip, and the grid edge and the patch of the 5 in row 4, column 3 leave it just one spot: the strip from column 4 to column 8 of row 3.
    8. The 5 in row 6, column 4 can only be a 5×1 strip, and the grid edge and the patch of the 5 in row 3, column 5 leave it just one spot: the strip from row 4 to row 8 of column 4.
    9. The 3 in row 8, column 3 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patches already placed, so its patch is the 1×3 strip from column 1 to column 3 of row 8.
    10. The 4 in row 7, column 1 is boxed in by the grid edge, the clue in row 4, column 1, and the patches already placed, so its patch is the 2×2 square from row 6, column 1 to row 7, column 2.
    11. The 6 in row 4, column 1 is boxed in by the grid edge, the clue in row 2, column 2, and the patches already placed, so its patch is the 3×2 rectangle from row 3, column 1 to row 5, column 2.
    12. The 4 in row 2, column 2 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patches already placed, so its patch is the 1×4 strip from column 1 to column 4 of row 2.
    13. The 6 in row 7, column 7 is boxed in by the grid edge, the clue in row 5, column 8, and the patches already placed, so its patch is the 3×2 rectangle from row 6, column 7 to row 8, column 8.
    14. Only the 4 in row 5, column 8 is left, so its patch is whatever remains: the 2×2 square from row 4, column 7 to row 5, column 8.
  4. 4Patches #212 solutionShow answer
    • 5×1 rectangle at row 1, column 1
    • 3×1 rectangle at row 1, column 6
    • 4×1 rectangle at row 2, column 1
    • 4×1 rectangle at row 2, column 5
    • 5×1 rectangle at row 3, column 4
    • 2×3 rectangle at row 3, column 1
    • 1×5 rectangle at row 3, column 3
    • 1×5 rectangle at row 4, column 6
    • 2×2 rectangle at row 4, column 7
    • 1×5 rectangle at row 4, column 4
    • 2×2 rectangle at row 6, column 1
    • 2×3 rectangle at row 6, column 7
    • 3×1 rectangle at row 8, column 1
    • 1×5 rectangle at row 4, column 5

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How to play Patches

  • Divide the whole grid into rectangles — no gaps, no overlaps.
  • Each rectangle contains exactly one clue.
  • A number tells you how many cells that rectangle covers.
  • The badge sets its shape: square (as tall as it is wide), tall (taller than wide), wide (wider than tall) or any.

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