I'm posting one puzzle, riddle, math, or statistical problem a day. Try to answer each one and post your answers in the comments section. I'll post the answer the next day. Even if you have the same answer as someone else, feel free to put up your answer, too!
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
A Bit More Complicated
You have 55 matches arranged in some number of piles of different sizes. You now do the following operation: pick one match from each pile, and form a new pile. You repeat this ad infinitum. What is the steady state? Is it unique?
By steady state I mean the number of piles will remain unchanged or you create an unending loop.
One possible steady state is 10 piles that have these number of sticks in each pile: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.
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