Solution

(related to Problem: The Eccentric Cheesemonger)

To leave the three piles at the extreme ends of the rows, the cheeses may be moved as follows — the numbers refer to the cheeses and not to their positions in the row: $7-2,$ $8-7,$ $9-8,$ $10-15,$ $6-10,$ $5-6,$ $14-16,$ $13-14,$ $12-13,$ $3-1,$ $4-3,$ $11-4.$ This is probably the easiest solution of all to find. To get three of the piles on cheeses $13,$ 14, and $15,$ play thus: $9-4,$ $10-9,$ $11-10,$ $6-14,$ $5-6,$ $12-15,$ $8-12,$ $7-8,$ $16-5,$ $3-13,$ $2-3,$ $1-2.$ To leave the piles on cheeses $3,$ $5,$ $12,$ and $14,$ play thus: $8-3,$ $9-14,$ $16-12,$ $1-5,$ $10-9,$ $7-10,$ $11-8,$ $2-1,$ $4-16,$ $13-2,$ $6-11,$ $15-4.$


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References

Project Gutenberg

  1. Dudeney, H. E.: "Amusements in Mathematics", The Authors' Club, 1917

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