Isn't 100000 100000 such a huge number (Part-9)?

AG and SG both study in the same class. They are mad in love of Katrina , one of their prettiest classmates. Katrina also is fond of their intelligence and smartness.

So, on the upcoming Valentine's Day, they plan to have a date with Katrina. They fight with each other to go with Katrina on a date. Katrina listens to their fight and tries to calm down the matter.

Katrina: Hey, let's not fight over it!

SG: But I want to go with you on a date.

AG: I also want to go.

Katrina: I have an idea. Let's play a game. I have a pile of 100000 100000 coins and I will give you any number of coins ranging from 1 1 to 100000 100000 . You can take out 1 1 coin, 2 2 coins or half of the pile of coins. You have to take turns to take out the coins. The one who takes out the last coin wins the game. Since I am a huge fan of your intelligence, I will go with the one who wins the game. SG will make the first move. So, are you ready guys?

AG: Sounds interesting!

SG: Let's play AG !!

Katrina will randomly choose how many coins to give to AG and SG . If both the players play optimally and intelligently, let the probability of AG to go on a date with Katrina is a b \dfrac{a}{b} where a a and b b are coprime positive integers. Find a + b a+b .

Details and Assumptions:

  • If the number of coins chosen by Katrina is odd, then the players can't take out half of the pile of coins. They can take out only 1 1 or 2 2 coins.

  • Bonus points for identifying AG and SG .

  • H a p p y \color{#D61F06}{\huge{Happy}} V a l e n t i n e s \color{#D61F06}{\huge{Valentine's}} D a y \color{#D61F06}{\huge{Day}} .

Image credit: Cartoon released by Archie Comic Publications Inc. in 2002.


The answer is 133333.

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1 solution

Wanchun Shen
Feb 7, 2015

If there are 1 or 2 coins, SG wins;

If there are 3 coins, the number of coins becomes 1 or 2 after SG takes his move, so AG wins;

If there are 4, 5 or 6 coins, SG can make it 3 so he wins;

If there are 7 coins, AG wins;

If there are 8, 9 or 14 coins, SG wins

......

From the analysis we can see AG wins if there are 3 coins or the coins number has the form of 3k+1, where k is an integer more than 2.

In fact, when there are 3k+1 coins, no matter what SG does, it becomes in the form of 3k or 3k+2. AG can take 1 or 2 coins to make it again in the form of 3k+1. After some turns there will be 7 coins in the pile after SG takes some coins. In this case AG wins.

If the coin number has the form of 3k or 3k+2, SG wins by taking 2 or 1 coin.

Hence, the probability AG wins is 33333/100000. The answer is 133333.

I'm takin' half of the bonus point... but who's the other guy SG?

Satvik Golechha - 6 years, 4 months ago

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Its you Satvik Golechha (SG)! Lol!:)

Yash Singhal - 6 years, 3 months ago

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Hi Genius!

Btw who's AG ?

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@A Former Brilliant Member Hi Greater Genius! :P

A G AG is Agnishom.

Yash Singhal - 6 years ago

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@Yash Singhal But who is Agnishom?

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@Agnishom Chattopadhyay LOL :P

He is a Super Genius!

Yash Singhal - 6 years ago

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@Yash Singhal I agree :P

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@A Former Brilliant Member Oh, I was talking to Agnishom the other day. Is he madly in love of Katrina?

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@Agnishom Chattopadhyay Well , give me his phone number and I'll ask him for you :)

I'm sure he won't mind ;)

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@A Former Brilliant Member Sounds like a good idea

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@Agnishom Chattopadhyay Who is Agnoshom? @Agnishom Chattopadhyay it doesn't seem you know any, if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic....

Satvik Golechha - 6 years ago

Why does AG win when there is 5 coins? If SG takes two in the first place, then no matter AG takes 1, or 2, SG will win

Timmy Ben - 6 years, 4 months ago

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Yes, you're right. I made a mistake...it is modified now. Thanks for pointing out:-D

Wanchun Shen - 6 years, 4 months ago

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