Problem #WSP-5573

Problems Game of Life

Problem

An oscillator is a pattern that returns to its original state after some number of evolutions. Its period is the smallest number of generations it needs to return to its initial state, so for example, a still life has period \(1\) because after \(1\) generation, it looks just like before. Show that a \(3\times 1\) rectangle of alive cells is an oscillator, and find its period.