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Monday, May 17, 2010

Mutab, Neda, and Sogal


Today's puzzle comes from an old copy of Best of Creative Computing, Volume 1.  In 1976, Walter Koetke, of Lexington High School presented the following:

If you think you've seen this problem before, you may be correct. It's a really old problem in a new disguise.

The civilizations of three planets Neda, Mutab, and Sogal have agreed to begin war in the year 2431. Although these societies have not eliminated such irrational actions as war, they have at least formalized the process. There are, for instance, no guerrilla activities and wars are usually very brief and always decisive. Wars are fought with inter-planetary rockets each of which is powerful enough to completely destroy an entire planet. With such powerful weapons at their disposal, Neda, Mutab, ad Sogal have agreed to the following set of rules, for only in this way can they be assured of a single victor.

Rule 1: The fight will continue until only one civilization remains.
Rule 2: The rather primitive technique of drawing lots will be used to determine which planet may launch the first rocket, which the second, and which the third.
Rule 3: After launching rotation is established, rocket launching begins and continues in order until only one planet remains.

When contemplating the outcome of this war, the three civilizations have full knowledge of the background of their adversaries.

Mutab is clearly the technologically superior civilization. Once launched, their rockets always strike with perfect accuracy - thus disproving a modern theory that nothing is perfect. Before the war begins, both of the other civilizations are aware of the terrifying fact that if a Mutab rocket is fired at them, the probability of their being completely destroyed is 1.

Neda is the oldest civilization and long ago had the superior technology. However, the complacency of a self-centered, unchallenged mind has been eroding this superiority for many years. As a result, the technology of Neda has not advanced in over 40 years. If a Nedian rocket is fired at another planet, the probability of hitting that planet is 0.8, just as it was 40 years ago.

Sogal is by far the newest of the three civilizations. Being dedicated to producing its own technology on its own terms has resulted in a proud and purposeful civilization, but one that is technologically four or five hundred years behind its present adversaries. A missile launched by Sogal has only a 50-50 chance of reaching its intended target.

Your role in this future war is to determine each civilization's probability of winning.

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