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Bulgaria counting and probability
Problem
A three-digit natural number is initially written on the board. Two players, and , take turns, with going first. The turner reduces the number on the board by some divisor of his own (i.e., other than and the number itself). For example, if at some point the number on the board is , it can be reduced by , then the number on the board will now be . Whoever cannot make a move loses, and the other wins. Player is known to have a way to win as well as player . What are all the possible ? (Ivaylo Kortezov)
Solution
If there is a prime number on the board, the player loses by definition. If there is an even number on the board that is not a power of , then the player can always reduce it by its odd divisor, leaving an odd number on the board. If the number on the board is odd and is reduced by its (odd) divisor , i.e. a number of the form is replaced by , the resulting number is even and is not a power of the pair. Therefore, if the starting number is even and not a power of even, the player can always make a move guaranteeing that for his next move he will again receive a natural number of the same kind. Thus, an even number that is not a power of even is a winning position, and an odd number is a losing position.
It remains to analyze the cases when the board number is for a natural . In this case, the reducer should be for naturally . If , then the resulting position is even and not a power of even, so it would be a winning move for the adversary and therefore an unacceptable move. So, we need . Playing this way, one player will get the even powers of on the board and the other the odd ones. Given that is a losing position, we conclude that even powers of are winning positions and odd powers of are losing positions.
The finally suitable are the even numbers that are not odd powers of the pair. Among the given there are such (we excluded and ).
It remains to analyze the cases when the board number is for a natural . In this case, the reducer should be for naturally . If , then the resulting position is even and not a power of even, so it would be a winning move for the adversary and therefore an unacceptable move. So, we need . Playing this way, one player will get the even powers of on the board and the other the odd ones. Given that is a losing position, we conclude that even powers of are winning positions and odd powers of are losing positions.
The finally suitable are the even numbers that are not odd powers of the pair. Among the given there are such (we excluded and ).
Final answer
All even three-digit numbers except 128 and 512 (448 total).
Techniques
Games / greedy algorithmsFactorization techniques