Smallest Polyomino with Hole

Theorem

The smallest polyomino with a hole is the heptomino in the form of a $3 \times 3$ square with the center $1 \times 1$ square and a corner $1 \times 1$ square missing:

Proof

From 35 Hexominoes and by inspection, none of the $35$ hexominoes has a hole.

From Number of Heptominoes and by inspection, exactly one of the $108$ heptominoes has a hole.

This is the smallest polyomino with a hole.

$\blacksquare$

Sources

• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $108$
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $108$