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Putnam
2023 Putnam
A6
A6
Part of
2023 Putnam
Problems
(1)
2023 Putnam A6
Source:
12/3/2023
Alice and Bob play a game in which they take turns choosing integers from 1 to
n
n
n
. Before any integers are chosen, Bob selects a goal of "odd" or "even". On the first turn, Alice chooses one of the
n
n
n
integers. On the second turn, Bob chooses one of the remaining integers. They continue alternately choosing one of the integers that has not yet been chosen, until the
n
n
n
th turn, which is forced and ends the game. Bob wins if the parity of
{
k
\{k
{
k
: the number
k
k
k
was chosen on the
k
k
k
th turn
}
\}
}
matches his goal. For which values of
n
n
n
does Bob have a winning strategy?
Putnam
Putnam 2023