MathDB
Combinatorics about words

Source: 239 MO 2021 (10-11).6

May 2, 2021
combinatorics

Problem Statement

The alphabet of the tribe AAB consists of the only letters AA and BB. However, if you insert or delete the combination AAAAAA or BBBBBB for any words, the meaning of the word will not change. In addition, if ABAB is replaced with BBAABBAA, or vice versa, the meaning of the word doesn't change. The same holds for BABA and AABBAABB. Is it true that ABAB and BABA have the same meaning?