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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
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  3. Puzzle time - truly even split

Puzzle time - truly even split

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  • jon-nycJ Offline
    jon-nycJ Offline
    jon-nyc
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    Can you partition the integers from 1 to 16 into two sets of equal sizes so that each set has the same sum, the same sum of squares, and the same sum of cubes?

    Trying to figure out if there’s a clever way to approach this without grinding it out or using a computer.

    "You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from."
    -Cormac McCarthy

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    • HoraceH Offline
      HoraceH Offline
      Horace
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      If it’s not 16 in partition 1, 15 and 14 in partition 2, 13 in partition 1, then repeat similar sequence of four three more times, then I doubt it is possible. I would have to do the math on that potential solution.

      Education is extremely important.

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      • KlausK Offline
        KlausK Offline
        Klaus
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        I think it will be helpful to consider the binary representation of the numbers.

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        • jon-nycJ Offline
          jon-nycJ Offline
          jon-nyc
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          I was able to get the answer from this morning’s hint:

          HINT: It's easy to split the numbers 1 through 4 so that each part has the same sum.  Can you extend that to splitting 1 through 8, so that each part has both the same sum and the same sum of squares?

          "You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from."
          -Cormac McCarthy

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          • jon-nycJ Offline
            jon-nycJ Offline
            jon-nyc
            wrote on last edited by jon-nyc
            #5

            The answer is not quite Horace’s suggestion but it’s close.

            "You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from."
            -Cormac McCarthy

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            • jon-nycJ Offline
              jon-nycJ Offline
              jon-nyc
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              I have a split for 1-32 that has equal sums, sum of squares, sum of cubes, and sum of 4th powers.

              It probably scales indefinitely.

              "You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from."
              -Cormac McCarthy

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