In the diagram given of one of the possible solutions it will be seen
that there are eight places at which we may start this particular tour;
but there is only one route in each case, because we must complete the
compartment in which we find ourself before passing into another. In any
solution we shall find that the squares distinguished by stars must be
entering or exit points, but the law of reversals leaves us the option
of making the other connections either at the diamonds or at the
circles. In the solution worked out the diamonds are used, but other
variations occur in which the circle squares are employed instead. I
think these remarks explain all the essential points in the puzzle,
which is distinctly instructive and interesting.
339.--THE FOUR KNIGHTS' TOURS.
[Illustration]
It will be seen in the illustration how a chessboard may be divided into
four parts, each of the same size and shape, so that a complete
re-entrant knight's tour may be made on each portion. There is only one
possible route for each knight and its reversal.
340.--THE CUBIC KNIGHT'S TOUR.
[Illustration]
If the reader should cut out the above diagram, fold it in the form of a
cube, and stick it together by the strips left for that purpose at the
edges, he would have an interesting little curiosity. Or he can make one
on a larger scale for himself. It will be found that if we imagine the
cube to have a complete chessboard on each of its sides, we may start
with the knight on any one of the 384 squares, and make a complete tour
of the cube, always returning to the starting-point. The method of
passing from one side of the cube to another is easily understood, but,
of course, the difficulty consisted in finding the proper points of
entry and exit on each board, the order in which the different boards
should be taken, and in getting arrangements that would comply with the
required conditions.
341.--THE FOUR FROGS.
The fewest possible moves, counting every move separately, are sixteen.
But the puzzle may be solved in seven plays, as follows, if any number
of successive moves by one frog count as a single play. All the moves
contained within a bracket are a single play; the numbers refer to the
toadstools: (1--5), (3--7, 7--1), (8--4, 4--3, 3--7), (6--2, 2--8, 8--4,
4--3), (5--6, 6--2, 2--8), (1--5, 5--6), (7--1).
This is the familiar old puzzle by Guarini, propounded in 1512, and I
give it here in order to explain my "buttons and string" method of
solving this class of moving-counter problem.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account