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LinkedIn · Patches

LinkedIn Patches #217 answer — October 20, 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. The 7 in row 7, column 7 is boxed in by the grid edge and the clue in row 7, column 2, so its patch is the 7×1 strip from row 1 to row 7 of column 7.
    2. The 7 in row 4, column 4 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patch of the 7 in row 7, column 7, so its patch is the 7×1 strip from row 1 to row 7 of column 4.
    3. The 5 in row 1, column 6 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patch of the 7 in row 4, column 4, so its patch is the 5×1 strip from row 1 to row 5 of column 6.
    4. The 7 in row 5, column 5 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patch of the 5 in row 1, column 6, so its patch is the 7×1 strip from row 1 to row 7 of column 5.
    5. The tall clue in row 6, column 6 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patch of the 5 in row 1, column 6, so its patch is the 2×1 strip from row 6 to row 7 of column 6.
    6. Only the 3 in row 7, column 2 can reach the cell in row 7, column 1, so its patch must cover it. The grid edge leaves just one way to do that: the 1×3 strip from column 1 to column 3 of row 7.
    7. Only the 5 in row 3, column 3 can reach the cell in row 6, column 3, so its patch must cover it. The patch of the 3 in row 7, column 2 leaves just one way to do that: the 5×1 strip from row 2 to row 6 of column 3.
    8. Only the 3 in row 1, column 1 can reach the cell in row 1, column 3, so its patch must cover it. Only one of its possible patches does: the 1×3 strip from column 1 to column 3 of row 1.
    9. Only the tall clue in row 2, column 2 is left, so its patch is whatever remains: the 5×2 rectangle from row 2, column 1 to row 6, column 2.
  4. 4Patches #217 solutionShow answer
    • 3×1 rectangle at row 1, column 1
    • 1×5 rectangle at row 1, column 6
    • 2×5 rectangle at row 2, column 1
    • 1×5 rectangle at row 2, column 3
    • 1×7 rectangle at row 1, column 4
    • 1×7 rectangle at row 1, column 5
    • 1×2 rectangle at row 6, column 6
    • 3×1 rectangle at row 7, column 1
    • 1×7 rectangle at row 1, column 7

Spotted a wrong answer, or a hint that gives too much away? Email us at hello@hints.day

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.

Stuck on your own grid? Open the Patches solver.

Full Patches rules, a first game step by step, and FAQ

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