| Math Logic |
|
|
| Question : |
| What
is the game called 'NIM' ? |
Answer : |
| NIM a favourite
game of mathematicians, is said to have originated in China .
Its current name was coined by Charles L. Bouton of Harvard University,
who developed the complete theory of the game in 1901.
|
| In this game two players draw articles from several piles,
each player in turn taking as many as he pleases from any one
pile. The player who draws the last article is the loser. |
|
If the numbers of article in each heap is expressed in the Binary scale, the game readily lends itself
so mathematical analysis.
|
|
There is one other way of playing this game. Three or more numbers in decimal system are written down, and two players
move alternatively. Each player may reduce one and only one of the integers by any amount he wishes except zero. The winner is
the one who obtains all zeros. |
