KnightBoredomNoLonger

ProblemStatement:Trytofindawaytomovetheknightslegally(followingtherulesofchess)
andwiththeminimumnumberofmovessothattheyareswitchingspots:blackknightsswitching

withwhitenights,(inthiscasegreenknightsswitchingwithyellowknights).Whatisthe
minimumnumberoflegalmovestheknightscantaketoswitchplaces?Cantheyswitchplaces
withlegalmoves?
Process:TosolvethisproblemIstartedoutbymerelyjustthinkingaboutit.EvenifIdidnt
haveasheetofpaper,Iwouldvisualizechesspiecesinmyheadandreallytrytofigureitout.
ThenIbegantotryitonpaper.ImessedupacoupletimesbecauseIthoughtthatthesquarethe
chesspiececurrentlywasincountedasonemove,butthatdidntmakesense.ThenIdidthe
problemdrawingitoutandcolorcoordinatingeachmove.IthoughtIhadcomeupwiththe
answer...8moves,butIwasdoingitincorrectlybecauseatsomepointsIhadtwochesspieces
persquare.Aftersomethought,Iaskedmydadforhelp.Wedrewouttheproblemandmessed
aroundforalittlewhile,tryingtoseeifyoucoulddoitin8moveslegallybyswitchingtheorder
ofthepiecesaround.Stillnotworkingwedrewabig3x3chessboardandwehadapenny,
nickel,dimeandquarter.Welabeledtheboxesacross:1,2,3anddown:X,Y,Z.Ithelpedto
physicallymovethepiecesaroundtogetmoreofvisual.Everymovewemadewewouldwrite
down.Hereiswhatwecameupwith:

Piece:

originalspot 1stmove

2ndmove

3rdmove

4thmove

PENNY

X1

Y3

Z1

X2

Z3

NICKEL

X3

Z2

X1

Y3

Z1

DIME

Z1

X2

Z3

Y1

X3

QUARTER

Z3

Y1

X3

Z2

X1

Thismethodwasextremelyhelpfulandithelpedmecometotheanswer.
Solution:TheanswerIcameupwithwas16moves.IbelievethisiscorrectbecauseItried
manyotherwaysandthisistheonlyonethatworkedwellandcameoutright.Itisalldone
completelylegal(withintheknightrestriction)andIdontthinkthereisashorter(lessmoves)
waytodoit.
Extensions:ExtensionquestionsIthoughtofwere:Whatstheshortestnumberofmovesfora
wouldtakeifitwasa4x4squareor5x5square?Whatsthechesspiecethatyoucoulddothisin
theleastnumberofmoves?
EvaluationandSelfAssessment:Ireallyenjoyedthisproblem.AlthoughfrustratingattimesI
likedthelogictoit.Itreallydidnttakeanymath.Ilearnedthatsomethingsaregoingtotake
moretimethanaquicklookandyouvegottheanswer.Therewillbetrialanderror.This
problemdefinitelytooklotoftrialanderror.IthinkthatduringthisfirstPOWImanagedmy
timewell,notleavingitallforthelastmoment.AlsoIspentagoodamountoftimeonitandI
didntgiveupwhenIfailedtoreachthecorrectanswerthefirstcoupleoftimesandIaskedfor
helpwhenIwasstuck.IthinkthatIdeservea30/30forthisProblemoftheWeek.