Problem packetResearch packetR721
The mex construction generates exactly the P-positions
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The record cites sources for its explanation.
Recorded status: established
Recorded scope: every P-position of the two-heap game whose equal diagonal removals are positive squares
Complete recorded scope and conditions
{
"kind": "universal",
"statement": "every P-position of the two-heap game whose equal diagonal removals are positive squares"
}Originating problem: A gap of 50 in square-diagonal Wythoff Nim
Recorded relationships: The first gap 50 occurs at P-position 42,762
Authored record and scope
- Authored title
- The mex construction generates exactly the P-positions
- Record type
- claim
- Stored status
- established
- Evidence grade
- sourced
- Recorded scope data
- { "kind": "universal", "statement": "every P-position of the two-heap game whose equal diagonal removals are positive squares" }
- Linked research record IDs
- R720
2Authored explanation
Let \(P_n=(a_n,b_n)\), with \(a_n\leq b_n\). Start with \(P_0=(0,0)\). After constructing the earlier pairs, let \(a_n\) be the least nonnegative integer absent from all their coordinates. Choose \(b_n\geq a_n\) as the least unused integer such that \[ (a_n-s^2,b_n-s^2)\notin\{P_0,\ldots,P_{n-1}\} \] for every positive square \(s^2\leq a_n\).
No two constructed pairs share a coordinate, so a single-heap move cannot connect them. The displayed exclusion prevents a legal square-diagonal move between them.
It remains to check that every other position can move to a constructed pair. If its smaller coordinate already occurs as the larger coordinate of an earlier pair, a single-heap reduction reaches that pair. Otherwise its smaller coordinate equals some \(a_n\). For a canonical position \((a_n,y)\), a value \(y<b_n\) was either used as the larger coordinate of an earlier pair or rejected because a square-diagonal move reaches an earlier pair. A value \(y>b_n\) can be reduced to \(b_n\) in one heap. These cases cover every position outside the constructed set. Hence the construction satisfies both defining P-position properties and lists the P-positions by increasing first coordinate.
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Replay material: source only
3Evidence
A verification source is cited. This record has no executable replay attached.
Verification source: ajc.maths.uq.edu.au ↗, Duchene, Fraenkel, Gravier, and Nowakowski, Another bridge between Nim and Wythoff, Australasian Journal of Combinatorics 44 (2009), Definition 5 for Wyt_K; the recurrence proof specialized to square K is included here
4How it connects
Supports
- claim
Tested by
- artifact
Recorded for
- problem
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Cite the original sources separately.
Machine-readable record
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"slug": "sdw-claim-mex-construction",
"type": "claim",
"title": "The mex construction generates exactly the P-positions",
"summary": "Unused coordinates and explicit square-diagonal exclusions give the losing pairs in lexicographic order.",
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"body": "Let \\(P_n=(a_n,b_n)\\), with \\(a_n\\leq b_n\\). Start with \\(P_0=(0,0)\\). After constructing the earlier pairs, let \\(a_n\\) be the least nonnegative integer absent from all their coordinates. Choose \\(b_n\\geq a_n\\) as the least unused integer such that\n\\[\n(a_n-s^2,b_n-s^2)\\notin\\{P_0,\\ldots,P_{n-1}\\}\n\\]\nfor every positive square \\(s^2\\leq a_n\\).\n\nNo two constructed pairs share a coordinate, so a single-heap move cannot connect them. The displayed exclusion prevents a legal square-diagonal move between them.\n\nIt remains to check that every other position can move to a constructed pair. If its smaller coordinate already occurs as the larger coordinate of an earlier pair, a single-heap reduction reaches that pair. Otherwise its smaller coordinate equals some \\(a_n\\). For a canonical position \\((a_n,y)\\), a value \\(y<b_n\\) was either used as the larger coordinate of an earlier pair or rejected because a square-diagonal move reaches an earlier pair. A value \\(y>b_n\\) can be reduced to \\(b_n\\) in one heap. These cases cover every position outside the constructed set. Hence the construction satisfies both defining P-position properties and lists the P-positions by increasing first coordinate.",
"status": "established",
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"kind": "universal",
"statement": "every P-position of the two-heap game whose equal diagonal removals are positive squares"
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"url": "https://ajc.maths.uq.edu.au/pdf/44/ajc_v44_p043.pdf",
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"locator": "Duchene, Fraenkel, Gravier, and Nowakowski, Another bridge between Nim and Wythoff, Australasian Journal of Combinatorics 44 (2009), Definition 5 for Wyt_K; the recurrence proof specialized to square K is included here"
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{
"slug": "R720",
"title": "The first gap 50 occurs at P-position 42,762",
"object_type": "claim",
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},
{
"slug": "R718",
"title": "Two-generator certificate for 100,000 P-positions",
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},
{
"slug": "square-diagonal-wythoff-gap-50",
"title": "square diagonal wythoff gap 50",
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}6Provenance
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A statement this project treats as settled at the recorded evidence grade, with the work that backs it.