Related papers: On an error in the star puzzle by Henry E. Dudeney
A linear algorithm is described for solving the n-Queens Completion problem for an arbitrary composition of k queens, consistently distributed on a chessboard of size n x n. Two important rules are used in the algorithm: a) the rule of…
The problem `Exploring Mount Neverest' by Henry Ernest Dudeney is solved. Dudeney formulated the problem in the beginning of the 20th century and gave a non-optimal solution (without estimating the non-optimality).
A generalized `$15$ puzzle' consists of an $n \times n$ numbered grid, with one missing number. A move in the game switches the position of the empty square with the position of one of its neighbors. We solve Diaconis' `15 puzzle problem'…
In 1979, David Fabian found a complete game of two-person Chinese Checkers in 30 moves (15 by each player) [Martin Gardner, Penrose Tiles to Trapdoor Ciphers, MAA, 1997]. This solution requires that the two players cooperate to generate a…
A famous (and hard) chess problem asks what is the maximum number of safe squares possible in placing $n$ queens on an $n\times n$ board. We examine related problems from placing $n$ rooks. We prove that as $n\to\infty$, the probability…
A star anagram is a rearrangement of the letters of one word to produce another word where no letter retains its original neighbors. These maximally shuffled anagrams are rare, comprising only about 5.7% of anagrams in English. They can…
The n-queens puzzle is a well-known combinatorial problem that requires to place n queens on an n x n chessboard so that no two queens can attack each other. Since the 19th century, this problem was studied by many mathematicians and…
The number of ways to place $q$ nonattacking queens, bishops, or similar chess pieces on an $n\times n$ square chessboard is essentially a quasipolynomial function of $n$ (by Part I of this series). The period of the quasipolynomial is…
Epiphainein counts unreachable single-side pawn diagrams (in chess) where pawns can move forward or diagonally-forward without limit whilst remaining on the board. Epiphainein is a serial calculation and takes a few seconds to calculate the…
By means of the Ehrhart theory of inside-out polytopes we establish a general counting theory for nonattacking placements of chess pieces with unbounded straight-line moves, such as the queen, on a polygonal convex board. The number of ways…
The problem of existence of closed knight tours for rectangular chessboards was solved by Schwenk in 1991. Last year, in 2011, DeMaio and Mathew provide an extension of this result for 3-dimensional rectangular boards. In this article, we…
In how many ways can $n$ queens be placed on an $n \times n$ chessboard so that no two queens attack each other? This is the famous $n$-queens problem. Let $Q(n)$ denote the number of such configurations, and let $T(n)$ be the number of…
In a delightful article, Richard Stanley derived, algebraically, the surprisingly simple formula, 3 times 7 to the power n-1, for the sum of the cubes of the n-th row of Stern's diatomic array. In this note, we find an elegant bijective…
On the n x n chessboard, the move totals of distinct pieces satisfy a small number of striking arithmetic identities. The total diagonal mobility of the bishop and the total 8-neighbor mobility of the king are exactly proportional, with…
A star of n (n greater than or equal to 2) line segments (needles) of equal length with common endpoint and constant angular spacing is randomly placed onto a lattice which is the union of two families of equidistant lines in the plane with…
Define a queen on $\mathbb{Z}_n^d$ with admissible moves parallel to $\mathbf{x}\in\{-1,0,1\}^d$ at arbitrary length. How many queens can be placed on $\mathbb{Z}_n^d$ without any two in conflict? In two dimensions, this problem was…
We establish a hierarchy of Euclidean stars according to their degree of complexity, as measured by the complexity factor and the complexity of the pattern of evolution. We consider both, nondissipative and dissipative systems. Solutions…
Using modular arithmetic of the ring $\mathbb{Z}_{n+1}$ we obtain a new short solution to the problem of existence of at least one solution to the $N$-Queens problem on an $N \times N$ chessboard. It was proved, that these solutions can be…
Parts I-IV showed that the number of ways to place $q$ nonattacking queens or similar chess pieces on an $n\times n$ chessboard is a quasipolynomial function of $n$ whose coefficients are essentially polynomials in $q$. For partial queens,…
This paper presents a systematic method to solve difficult 9 x 9 Sudoku puzzles by hand. While computer algorithms exist to solve these puzzles, these algorithms are not good for human's to use because they involve too many steps and…