Related papers: The $n$-queens problem

A base-b junction number u has the property that there are at least two ways to write it as u = v + s(v), where s(v) is the sum of the digits in the expansion of the number v in base b. For the base-10 case, Kaprekar in the 1950's and…

We consider the problem of determining $m_n$, the number of matroids on $n$ elements. The best known lower bound on $m_n$ is due to Knuth (1974) who showed that $\log \log m_n$ is at least $n-3/2\log n-1$. On the other hand, Piff (1973)…

The Eulerian number A(n,k) counts permutations of n symbols with exactly k descents. Motivated by problems in cryptography, several authors have studied the proportion of permutations whose number of descents lies in a fixed congruence…

We analyse approximation algorithms (greedy heuristics) for the classical domination number and two multiple domination numbers in simple graphs. First, we present a short self-contained proof of the known result that the minimum domination…

In the projective space $\mathrm{PG}(N,q)$ over the Galois field of order $q$, $N\ge3$, an iterative step-by-step construction of complete caps by adding a new point on every step is considered. It is proved that uncovered points are evenly…

Traditionally, the problem of apportioning the seats of a legislative body has been viewed as a one-shot process with no dynamic considerations. While this approach is reasonable for some settings, dynamic aspects play an important role in…

Using a bijective proof, we show the number of ways to arrange a maximum number of nonattacking pawns on a $2m\times 2m$ chessboard is ${2m\choose m}^2$, and more generally, the number of ways to arrange a maximum number of nonattacking…

Lehmer's totient problem asks whether there exists any composite number $n$ such that $\varphi(n) \, \mid \, (n-1)$, where $\varphi$ is Euler totient function. It is known that if any such $n$ exists, it must be Carmichael and $n >…

The tiling problem has been a famous problem that has appeared in many Mathematics problems. Many of its solutions are rooted in high-level Mathematics. Thus we hope to tackle this problem using more elementary Mathematics concepts. In this…

Let $p(n)$ denote the number of partitions of a natural number $n$. As $ n \to \infty$, the $n$th root of $p(n)$ tends to $1$, which is related to the Cauchy--Hadamard test for power series. Andrews also discovered an elementary proof. Sun…

In the natural generalization of tic-tac-toe to an $n \times n \times n$ board where $n \in \mathbb{N}$, it is known that the first player has a winning strategy if $n \leq 4$ and that either player can force a draw if $n \geq 8$. The…

We introduce a two-player game in which one and his/her opponent attempt to pack as many ``prisoners'' as possible on the squares of an n-by-n checkerboard; each prisoner has to be ``protected'' by at least as many guards as the number of…

A partial Latin square of order $n$ can be represented by a $3$-dimensional chess-board of size $n\times n\times n$ with at most $n^2$ non-attacking rooks. In Latin squares, a subsystem and its most distant mate together have as many rooks…

We consider the minimum number of lines $h_n$ and $p_n$ needed to intersect or pierce, respectively, all the cells of the $n \times n$ chessboard. Determining these values can also be interpreted as a strengthening of the classical plank…

In the King's Problem, a physicist is asked to prepare a d-state quantum system in any state of her choosing and give it to a king who measures one of (d+1) sets of mutually unbiased observables on it. The physicist is then allowed to make…

A $d$-dimensional generalization of a Latin square of order $n$ can be considered as a chess-board of size $n\times n\times \ldots\times n$ ($d$ times), containing $n^d$ cells with $n^{d-1}$ non-attacking rooks. Each cell is identified by a…

We give a computer assisted proof of the full listing of central configuration for $n$-body problem for Newtonian potential on the plane for $n=5,6,7$ with equal masses. We show all these central configurations have a reflective symmetry…

A sequence is nonrepetitive if it does not contain two adjacent identical blocks. The remarkable construction of Thue asserts that 3 symbols are enough to build an arbitrarily long nonrepetitive sequence. It is still not settled whether the…

We prove that the number $q(n)$ of partitions into distinct parts is log-concave for $n \geq 33$ and satisfies the higher order Tur\'an inequalities for $n\geq 121$ conjectured by Craig and Pun. In doing so, we establish explicit error…

A \textit{linear $3$-graph}, $H = (V, E)$, is a set, $V$, of vertices together with a set, $E$, of $3$-element subsets of $V$, called edges, so that any two distinct edges intersect in at most one vertex. The linear Tur\'an number, ${\rm…