Covering a cube with holes by strips (Q2268627)

Let \(I^m \subset {\mathbb R}^m \) be a unit closed cube containing a countable collection of open cubes \( I^m_1 \), \( I^m_2 \), \( \ldots I^m_k \ldots \) such that their edges are parallel to the edges of \( I^m \), and their lengths \( a_1 , a_2 \), \( \ldots a_k \ldots \), respectively, satisfy the conditions \(a_1 + \ldots + a_{k-1} + m a_k \leq m - \sqrt{m} \,\) for any \( k \). The main theorem of the paper under review states that if the set \(I^m \setminus (\cup^{\infty}_{k=1} I^m_k) \) is covered by a countable set of strips \(S_1 \), \(\ldots S_n \ldots\) with breadths \( h_1 \), \(\ldots h_n \ldots \), respectively, then \( h_1 + \ldots h_n + \ldots \geq 1\). In the case of \( m=2 \) and just one square hole \( I^2_1 \subset I^2 \) this theorem was proved by \textit{A. Bezdek} [Discrete Comput. Geom. 30, No. 2, 177--180 (2003; Zbl 1080.52509)].