Problem

Source: 2018 Latvia BW TST P6

Tags: rectangle, combinatorics, combinatorics unsolved



Let $ABCD$ be a rectangle consisting of unit squares. All vertices of these unit squares inside the rectangle and on its sides have been colored in four colors. Additionally, it is known that: every vertex that lies on the side $AB$ has been colored in either the $1.$ or $2.$ color; every vertex that lies on the side $BC$ has been colored in either the $2.$ or $3.$ color; every vertex that lies on the side $CD$ has been colored in either the $3.$ or $4.$ color; every vertex that lies on the side $DA$ has been colored in either the $4.$ or $1.$ color; no two neighboring vertices have been colored in $1.$ and $3.$ color; no two neighboring vertices have been colored in $2.$ and $4.$ color. Notice that the constraints imply that vertex $A$ has been colored in $1.$ color etc. Prove that there exists a unit square that has all vertices in different colors (in other words it has one vertex of each color).