We solve problems

Problems Set theory and logic Algorithm Theory Game Theory Symmetric strategies

A two-player game with matches. There are 37 matches on the table. In each turn, a player is allowed to take no more than 5 matches. The winner of the game is the player who takes the final match. Which player wins, if the right strategy is used?

Problem #PRU-102844

Problems Combinatorics Painting problems Methods Pigeonhole principle Pigeonhole principle (other) Proof by contradiction Algebra Word Problems Tables and tournaments Tables and tournaments (other)

12–14 3.0

The cells of a \(15 \times 15\) square table are painted red, blue and green. Prove that there are two lines which at least have the same number of cells of one colour.

Problem #PRU-102879

Problems Methods Examples and counterexamples. Constructive proofs Pigeonhole principle Pigeonhole principle (other)

12–14 3.0

What is the maximum number of kings, that cannot capture each other, which can be placed on a chessboard of size \(8 \times 8\) cells?

Problem #PRU-102974

Problems Discrete Mathematics Algorithm Theory

10–12 3.0

There is a 12 litre barrel filled with water, and two empty barrels (one is 5 litres in volume and the other is 8 litres). Using these barrels, try to

a) divide the water into 2 parts with volumes: 3 litres and 9 litres;

b) divide the water into 2 parts with equal volume.

Problem #PRU-102997

Problems Algebra Number systems Binary number system Set theory and logic Algorithm Theory

10–12 3.0

Michael thinks of a number no less than \(1\) and no greater than \(1000\). Victoria is only allowed to ask questions to which Michael can answer “yes” or “no” (Michael always tells the truth). Can Victoria figure out which number Michael thought of by asking \(10\) questions?

Problem #PRU-103780

Problems Methods Algebraic methods Partitions into pairs and groups; bijections Pigeonhole principle Pigeonhole principle (other) Proof by exhaustion

11–13 3.0

In any group of 10 children, out of a total of 60 pupils, there will be three who are in the same class. Will it always be the case that amongst the 60 pupils there will be: 1) 15 classmates? 2) 16 classmates?

Problem #PRU-103787

Problems Methods Algebraic methods Counting in two ways Extremal principle Extremal principle (other) Pigeonhole principle Pigeonhole principle (other)

12–14 3.0

One term a school ran 20 sessions of an after-school Astronomy Club. Exactly five pupils attended each session and no two students encountered one another over all of the sessions more than once. Prove that no fewer than 20 pupils attended the Astronomy Club at some point during the term.

Problem #PRU-103791

Problems Algebra Number systems Decimal number system Set theory and logic Mathematical logic Puzzles

12–12 3.0

In the rebus below, replace the letters with numbers such that the same numbers are represented with the same letter. The asterisks can be replaced with any numbers such that the equations hold.

An explanation of the notation used: the unknown numbers in the third and fourth rows are the results of multiplying 1995 by each digit of the number in the second row, respectively. These third and fourth rows are added together to get the total result of the multiplication \(1995 \times ***\), which is the number in the fifth row. This is an example of a “long multiplication table”.

Problem #PRU-103819

Problems Methods Pigeonhole principle Pigeonhole principle (other) Set theory and logic Algorithm Theory Algorithm Theory

12–14 3.0

In Mexico, environmentalists have succeeded in enacting a law whereby every car should not be driven at least one day a week (the owner informs the police about their car registration number and the day of the week when this car will not be driven). In a certain family, all adults want to travel daily (each for their own business!). How many cars (at least) should the family have, if the family has a) 5 adults? b) 8 adults?

Problem #PRU-103873

Problems Set theory and logic Mathematical logic Mathematical logic (other)

11–12 3.0

Jessica, Nicole and Alex received 6 coins between them: 3 gold coins and 3 silver coins. Each of them received 2 coins. Jessica doesn’t know which coins the others received but only which coins she has. Think of a question which Jessica can answer with either “yes”, “no” or “I don’t know” such that from the answer you can know which coins Jessica has.