Eventual period-two conjecture for impartial scoring subtraction games

From papers

Let SS be a finite subtraction set, and let Gs(n)\mathcal{G}_s(n) denote the scoring value of the subtraction game at heap size nn. Write

k=max{S}.k=\max\{S\}.

Eventual period-two conjecture. There exists an integer NN such that

Gs(n+2k)=Gs(n)\mathcal{G}_s(n+2k)=\mathcal{G}_s(n)

for all nNn\geq N.

This conjecture asserts eventual periodicity with period 2k2k for every finite subtraction set. The surrounding discussion notes that subtraction-game functions are eventually periodic, but asks whether this specific period always occurs; the example with subtraction set {4,5}\{4,5\} motivates the need for such an eventual statement.

Progress summary

Nothing recorded yet. Refresh searches the literature and the public web for attempts on this problem, and writes the first summary here.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Fraser Stewart, “Impartial Scoring Play Games”, arXiv:1202.4655 (2012).

Solutions 0

No solutions have been posted yet.