An algorithm for counting domino tilings of a rectangular chessboard
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13069/jacodesmath.v13i1.335Keywords:
Domino tiling, Tiling counting, Dimer problem, Recurrence relation, Algorithm, Fibonacci numbersAbstract
A recursive method is developed for counting domino tilings of a rectangular chessboard (the dimer problem). Based on this method, a new and enhanced recursive algorithm is proposed for solving this problem. Close connections with Fibonacci numbers are traced out.
Accepted: 23 June 2025
Downloads
References
J. H. Ahrens, Paving the chessboard, Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series A. 31(3) (1981) 277–288.
S. Butler, P. Horn, E. Tressler, Intersecting domino tilings, The Fibonacci Quarterly. 48(2) (2010) 114–120.
D. DeFord, Enumerating distinct chessboard tilings, The Fibonacci Quarterly. 52(5) (2014) 102–116.
R. L. Graham, D. E. Knuth, O. Patashnik, Concrete mathematics. A foundation for computer science, 2nd edition, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, MA. (1994).
P. W. Kasteleyn, The statistics of dimers on a lattice: I. The number of dimer arrangements on quadratic lattice, Physica. 27 (1961) 1209–1225.
D. Klarner, J. Pollack, Domino tilings of rectangles with fixed width, Discrete Mathematics. 32(1) (1980) 45–52.
L. Lovász, M. D. Plummer, Matching theory, North-Holland Math. Stud. 121, Ann. Discrete Math. 29, North-Holland, Amsterdam (1986).
A. M. Magomedov, S. Lawrencenko, Number of domino tilings of a 16 X n rectangle, The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, A340532 - OEIS (10 Jan. 2021).
A. M. Magomedov, S. Lawrencenko, Number of domino tilings of a 32 X n rectangle, The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, A347054 - OEIS (14 Aug. 2021).
J. K. Percus, Combinatorial methods, Applied Mathematical Sciences. 4, Springer-Verlag, New York-Heidelberg (1971).
R. C. Read, A note on tiling rectangles with dominoes, The Fibonacci Quarterly. 18(1) (1980) 24–27.
A. Skopenkov, Mathematics via Problems: Part 1: Algebra, translated from the Russian original by P. Zeitz and S. G. Shubin, foreword by P. Zeitz, MSRI Math. Circ. Libr. 25, MSRI, Berkeley, CA; American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI. (2021).
H. N. V. Temperley, M. E. Fisher, Dimer problem in statistical mechanics—an exact result, The Philosophical Magazine: A Journal of Theoretical Experimental and Applied Physics. 6(68) (1961) 1061–1063.
L. G. Valiant, The complexity of computing the permanent, Theoretical Computer Science. 8(2) (1979) 189–201.