Math Is Fun Forum

Calabria

Member

Registered: 2016-09-09

Posts: 1

Progressive dinner

We have 144 guests who need to rotate for 3 courses using 18 tables of 8.  Can you give me the calculations so that all 144 progress to 3 different tables throughout the evening?

thickhead

Member

Registered: 2016-04-16

Posts: 1,086

Re: Progressive dinner

Problem not clear.

---

{1}Vasudhaiva Kutumakam.{The whole Universe is a family.}
(2)Yatra naaryasthu poojyanthe Ramanthe tatra Devataha
{Gods rejoice at those places where ladies are respected.}

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Progressive dinner

Hi Calabria;

These progressive dinners are not always possible and many others have not been solved yet that I know of. Can you have another arrangement?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,818

Re: Progressive dinner

Hi Calabria;

For a real-life scenario I can offer the following two options:

It meets the brief in post #1 (as I understand it), and suits group placement: eg, for families with young children, so that they may sit together.

This one has a constraint that no guest may sit with the same guest at more than one table, and suits maximum guest mixing.
It can also be used for group placement (though to a much lesser degree than A's) through name/number assignment: eg, the 3-guest group {1,2,131} places a different combination of two of them at one table for each course.

I've assumed that all tables serve courses 1 to 3, in that order.

Last edited by phrontister (2017-02-23 19:02:15)

---

"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

thickhead

Member

Registered: 2016-04-16

Posts: 1,086

Re: Progressive dinner

I am looking for a prospective dinner rather than progressive dinner.

---

{1}Vasudhaiva Kutumakam.{The whole Universe is a family.}
(2)Yatra naaryasthu poojyanthe Ramanthe tatra Devataha
{Gods rejoice at those places where ladies are respected.}

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Progressive dinner

Hi phrontister;

Do you have any working M code?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,818

Re: Progressive dinner

Hi Bobby;

No, I don't, sorry. I just drew it up by hand in Excel.

Option A was very straightforward, of course, but B took a few stabs at it before I got a system that worked (by adjusting A)...and that system can be used as a springboard for deriving more grid combinations.

Last edited by phrontister (2016-09-16 13:25:52)

---

"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Progressive dinner

Hi;

There are many of these that are solved already and I have the tables of the ones that are. Unfortunately, I have never been smart enough to program one of these in M when it is not in the table. I am on the lookout for a program that would do the job.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,818

Re: Progressive dinner

Hi Bobby;

Having first encountered PDs here on MIF and only done a few, I don't know all that much about them, but it seems that small differences in wording could lead to big differences in solution strategies...which might be difficult to cater for in one solve-all algorithm.

I can't think of anything that would work, and googling dug up nothing that helped, but here's something from the 2009 "Another progressive dinner" thread:

Bobby: could this be automated? "Progressive Dinner Tool" ... ?

Hi MathsisFun;

  I can't say at this time. Although it took a lot of computer help, it also took a lot of human trial and error. In other words I don't yet have an algorithm. I am going to work on her other problem and maybe see if it can be automated.

---

"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Progressive dinner

I can't say at this time.

Hah! Why the heck should I listen to that guy?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

phrontister

Real Member

From: The Land of Tomorrow

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 4,818

Re: Progressive dinner

I can't say at this time.

But the deafening silence from Mr Google and SE confirm what you said.

---

"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Progressive dinner

The SE is nothing but a bunch of big knowitall windbags, that fellow is a member there so you see I am right.

Mr Google is correct though, I have never been able to find one but the charts I do have were all done by computer. So I am beginning to suspect that somebody out there knows all about this type of problem and he/she ain't telling me didley.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.