MathDB
1,995 soldiers lined up in a column

Source: I Soros Olympiad 1994-95 Ukraine R2 9.5 https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c2416727_soros_olympiad_in_mathematics

June 6, 2024
combinatorics

Problem Statement

On the square, 1,9951,995 soldiers lined up in a column, and some of them stood correctly, and some turned backwards. Sergeant Smith remembers only the command "as". With this command, each soldier who sees an even number of faces facing him turns 180o180^o, while the rest remain stationary. All movements on command are performed simultaneously. Prove that the sergeant can orient all the soldiers in one direction.