Maximus is one of 3 or more prisoners of war who have been lined up before the Roman Emperor. The prisoners are numbered from first in the line to last as 1, 2, 3, 4, ..., N. The Emperor orders the execution of the prisoners in the following manner:

1) The first and last are immediately executed.
2) If there are still 2 or more prisoners remaining, the half of the remaining prisoners with the lowest numbers (rounded up) are executed.
3) If there are still 3 or more prisoners remaining, start again from Step 1.

For example, if there were 5 prisoners to start then prisoners 1 and 5 would be executed in Step 2, and prisoners 2 and 3 would be executed in Step 3, leaving prisoner 4 alive.

Is there a strategy by which Maximus can save himself? What if Maximus also wants to save his friend Romulus?

In the example given of five initial prisoners, wouldn't 1 and 5 be executed due to Step 1 (not Step 2)?  Then, with 2,3 and 4 left, Step 2 would apply because 3 satisfies "2 or more", and that would mean 2 and 3 would be executed due to Step 2?  The result is the same, 4 is alive.  Just want to make sure I understand the rules.

Posted by Kenny M on 2024-04-20 09:45:20