← Pattern Anatomy

Pattern Anatomy

Each pattern, deconstructed.

casework-by-position-type

Rank 7/19 4.0% of all AMC problems Grade 3–3

Positions in a configuration (squares on a grid, vertices of a polyhedron) split naturally into a small number of symmetry classes (corner / edge / center; edge-neighbor / face-diagonal / space-diagonal). Counting attacks each class separately and sums via the multiplication principle.

Drill 1020 variants available
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Sample problem
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27-year frequency
1999–2026 ↑ 75%
2026 forecast slots

How to solve

Primary tools see-draworganize
What to look for
  • Move from 3x3 chess grid to 4x4 — corner/edge/middle counts shift but the casework strategy is identical
  • Replace kings with knights (different attack pattern) so the per-class counts change
  • On the cube, ask for equilateral triangles NOT containing P, or right triangles containing P

Sub-archetype mix (5)

Click a row to see member problems.

More data (year-over-year, tool fingerprint, grade distribution, all members)
36
members
1999–2026
Active years
Year-over-year

Tool fingerprint (1–17)

Grade distribution

  • Gr 3
    3
  • Gr 4
    9
  • Gr 5
    3
  • Gr 6
    4
  • Gr 7
    11
  • Gr 8
    5