2001 IMO Shortlist Problems/C7

Revision as of 18:36, 20 August 2008 by Minsoens (talk | contribs) (New page: == Problem == A pile of <math>n</math> pebbles is placed in a vertical column. This configuration is modified according to the following rules. A pebble can be moved if it is at the top of...)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Problem

A pile of $n$ pebbles is placed in a vertical column. This configuration is modified according to the following rules. A pebble can be moved if it is at the top of a column which contains at least two more pebbles than the column immediately to its right. (If there are no pebbles to the right, think of this as a column with 0 pebbles.) At each stage, choose a pebble from among those that can be moved (if there are any) and place it at the top of the column to its right. If no pebbles can be moved, the configuration is called a final configuration. For each $n$, show that, no matter what choices are made at each stage, the final configuration obtained is unique. Describe that configuration in terms of $n$.

Solution

This problem needs a solution. If you have a solution for it, please help us out by adding it.

Resources