Math Is Fun Forum

Demo

Member

Registered: 2009-10-04

Posts: 1

Does anybody know?

Hi there. Does anybody know the title of this game, or the strategy to win it?

The game consists of 15 lines, drawn in 3 rows - numbering 3, 5, 7. The aim of the game is to be the last person to cross off a single line. You can cross multiple lines out in one go, however they must be adjacent and on the same row.
The layout looks something like this:

        |   |   |

    |   |   |   |   |

|   |   |   |   |   |   |

So yeah, does anybody know the title of this game or the strategy to win it?

Thanks heaps.

Demo.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Does anybody know?

Hi Demo;

Your game is close to "normal play 3 heap nim" but has some differences. Try here first.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nim#The_21_game

Last edited by bobbym (2009-10-04 17:52:51)

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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.

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: Does anybody know?

Jane did some in-depth analysis of this a while ago. It was a slightly different game, but it should show you the way to think about it.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.