May 6, 2014
Problem of the Week
for Tuesday, May 6, 2014
In the game of peanuts, chocolate chips and raisins, two players take turns removing food from one or three of the bowls. On every turn, a player may choose to remove as many peanuts from the peanut bowl , as many chocolate chips from the chocolate chip bowl, or as many raisins from the raisin bowl as she wishes, or she can choose to remove the same number of pieces from each of the three bowls at the same time but she must remove at least one thing. In the course of the game, if any bowl becomes empty, a player may choose to remove the same number of things from the two remaining bowls with food. The goal of the game is to be the last to be able to remove food from the bowls. If the game starts with 6 peanuts in the peanut bowl , 3 chocolate chips in the chocolate chip bowl, and 2 raisins in the raisin bowl, what move can Player One make to ensure that she can make the final move?