Three piles are set up. One has 3 pebbles, one has 5, and the last has 7. At each turn a player may draw any number of pebbles (at least 1) from one pile-the whole pile, if she wishes-but may not draw from more than one pile at a time. The player that picks up the last pebble loses.
Which wins, the first or second player, and how?
from
Mathematical Puzzles
by
Geoffrey Mott-Smith
Due Friday, March 12th
at Noon.