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How to play Tower of Hanoi?

The Tower of Hanoi is a classic mathematical puzzle that challenges players to move a stack of disks from one rod to another, following specific rules. It is both an engaging game and a tool for learning recursion, problem-solving, and logical thinking. This timeless puzzle has captured the imagination of mathematicians, educators, and puzzle enthusiasts alike, thanks to its deceptively simple rules and deep strategic complexity..

History of Tower of Hanio

The Tower of Hanoi was invented in 1883 by the French mathematician Édouard Lucas. He designed it as part of a mathematical recreation and introduced it under the pseudonym “N. Claus de Siam.” The puzzle’s association with a mythical origin story involving ancient monks transferring golden disks has only added to its mystique and appeal.

How to setup the Puzzle?

Rods: The puzzle consists of three rods, traditionally labeled A, B, and C. These rods act as the staging areas for the disks during the solution process.

Disks: A number of disks, each of a different size, are stacked on one rod (Rod A) in descending order of size, with the largest at the bottom and the smallest at the top. The varying sizes add an additional layer of complexity to the puzzle.

– Objective: The challenge is to transfer the entire stack of disks from Rod A to Rod C, adhering to specific movement rules, while preserving their original order.

Rules of the Puzzle

1. Only one disk can be moved at a time, requiring careful planning to avoid unnecessary moves.

2. A disk can only be placed on an empty rod or on top of a larger disk, ensuring that smaller disks always remain accessible for future moves.

3. All disks must be moved to Rod C while maintaining their size order (largest at the bottom, smallest at the top), which mirrors their original arrangement on Rod A.

The Recursive Solution

The Tower of Hanoi solution leverages recursion, breaking the problem into smaller, more manageable steps. The recursive nature of the solution makes it a classic example of divide-and-conquer problem-solving.

  1. Move the top disks from Rod A to Rod B, using Rod C as a temporary holder. This step effectively reduces the problem to a smaller Tower of Hanoi puzzle with one fewer disk.
  2. Move the largest disk directly from Rod A to Rod C. This is the simplest move but must be timed perfectly to fit within the overall strategy.
  3. Move the disks from Rod B to Rod C, using Rod A as a temporary holder. This step completes the puzzle, resulting in all disks being stacked in the correct order on Rod C.

Solution of Tower of Hanoi with 3 Disks

For a simpler illustration, consider the Tower of Hanoi with three disks:

  1. Move Disk 1 (smallest) from Rod A to Rod C.
  2. Move Disk 2 from Rod A to Rod B.
  3. Move Disk 1 from Rod C to Rod B.
  4. Move Disk 3 (largest) from Rod A to Rod C.
  5. Move Disk 1 from Rod B to Rod A.
  6. Move Disk 2 from Rod B to Rod C.
  7. Move Disk 1 from Rod A to Rod C.

This requires moves and serves as a foundational example for understanding the recursive process.

General Formula

The minimum number of moves required to solve the Tower of Hanoi puzzle with disks is:

Where:

  • is the minimum number of moves.
  • is the number of disks.

This formula highlights the exponential growth of complexity as the number of disks increases, making larger versions of the puzzle both challenging and rewarding to solve.

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