Complementary Sequences

Stanford
Math

Sam Vandervelde
March 25, 2007

Circle

We present a collection of Breakout puzzles. Our version of this classic game goes as follows. At
the outset you are given some number of blocks in a row, represented by segments of length one
along the x-axis. The first block stretches from (1, 0) to (2, 0), the second block goes from (2, 0) to
(3, 0), and so on. There is also a horizontal wall represented by the line y = 2 against which a ball
can bounce. Finally, you have a single ball situated at the origin with which you must knock out
all the blocks in each puzzle. You may aim the ball at any point along the wall. Each time the ball
hits a block that segment disappears and the ball bounces back up towards the wall. Your goal is
to hit all the blocks in each puzzle.
Level A
1. Figure out how to hit three blocks in a row in one try.
2. Next knock out ten blocks in a row with a single ball.
3. Is it possible to obliterate a row of infinitely many blocks with a single ball?
Level B
4. Once again you have ten blocks in a row, but this time the third, sixth, and ninth blocks are
missing. How can you hit the rest of them without falling into any gaps?
5. Now the fourth and ninth blocks are missing from a row of ten blocksdestroy the rest of them
with a single shot.
6. Describe all possible solutions to the previous problem.
Level C In the next set of puzzles, well agree that if a ball lands directly on an integer, then
each of the two adjacent blocks is half destroyed. To finish the job a second ball would have to also
land directly on that integer, thus knocking out both of the adjacent blocks at once.
7. Given ten blocks in a row, an initial ball is sent through which first hits the x-axis at x = 83 .
Confirm that this ball knocks out the second, fifth, half of the seventh, half of the eighth, and the
tenth block. (Well call this an 38 -ball.) How can you hit what remains with a single ball?
8. This time you are given a row of forty blocks, and a
out the blocks that are left with a single shot?

20
7 -ball

is sent through. How can you knock

Level D

9. Given a row of infinitely many blocks, suppose that a 2-ball is sent through to knock out some
of the segments. Make a conjecture as to how to pulverize the remaining blocks in one try.
10. Same thing, except this time a -ball is sent through ahead of you, where is the golden ratio.
(In other words, is the positive real number satisfying 1 + = 2 .)
Challenge
11. Prove in general that if and are real numbers satisfying 1 + 1 = 1, then an -ball followed
by a -ball will precisely hit every single block in an infinite row of segments. (Consider the case of
irrational and rational separately, in that order.)