Suppose, we have the following game:
There is a pair of numbers (x, y), 2 players are making moves. During the move a player can increase any number by 1 or multiply it by 2. The player, who makes a move after which (x + y) >= 77 wins.
The initial position is (8, x), find the minimal x such as the second player wins in minimal number of turns.
This problem can be easily solved analytically: both players multiply x by 2 and we get the following inequality:
8 + 2*2*x >= 77 => 4*x >= 69 => x >= (69 / 4) => x >= 17,25
x = ceil(17,25)
x = 18
Now we tried to solve it using Prolog:
:- use_module(library(clpfd)).
top(77).
% possible moves for player
next_state(X1, X2, Y1, Y2) :- Y1 #= X1 + 1,
Y2 #= X2.
next_state(X1, X2, Y1, Y2) :- Y1 #= X1,
Y2 #= X2 + 1.
next_state(X1, X2, Y1, Y2) :- Y1 #= 2*X1,
Y2 #= X2.
next_state(X1, X2, Y1, Y2) :- Y1 #= X1,
Y2 #= 2*X2.
% winning pair
win(X1, X2) :- top(X),
X1 + X2 #>= X.
% we have a sequence of states
sequence_correct([[X1, X2]]) :- win(X1, X2).
sequence_correct([[X1, X2], [Y1, Y2] | T]) :- next_state(X1, X2, Y1, Y2),
sequence_correct([[Y1, Y2] | T]).
% find X such as there is a sequence of 3 states, and there is no Y such as
% Y < X => X is minimum
min(X) :- sequence_correct([[8, X], _, _]), \+ (sequence_correct([[8, Y], _, _]), Y #< X).
But unfortunately when we try to find minimal X, it fails:
?- min(X).
false.
?- min(18). % <- this is good
true.
?- min(17).
false.
?- min(19).
false.
You are using (\+)/1 which explains:
?- min(X).
false.
No position is negative [X0,Y0] ins 0..sup. Assuming the game doesn't start in the winning position (X0+Y0 #< 77), only the last move is winning (X+Y #>= 77).
move_(s(X,Y), s(X0,Y0), s(X,Y)) :-
[X0,Y0] ins 0..sup,
X0+Y0 #< 77,
next_state(X0, Y0, X, Y).
moves([S0|Ss]) :-
foldl(move_, Ss, S0, s(X,Y)),
X+Y #>= 77.
min(Y) :-
Y0 in 0..77,
labeling([min], [Y0]),
moves([s(8,Y0),_,_]),
!, % commit to the minimum.
Y = Y0.
The search for the minimum is done with labeling([min], [Y0]).
Improved solution for any depth:
move_(s(P,X,Y), s(P0,X0,Y0), s(P,X,Y)) :-
P #= 1-P0,
X0+Y0 #< 77,
next_state(X0, Y0, X, Y).
min(Depth, s(P0,X0,Y0), s(P,X,Y)) :-
[X0,Y0] ins 0..sup,
X0+Y0 #< 77,
length(Ss, Depth),
foldl(move_, Ss, s(P0,X0,Y0), s(P,X,Y)),
X+Y #>= 77.
min(Y) :-
length(_, Depth),
Y0 in 0..77,
labeling([min], [Y0]),
min(Depth, s(0,8,Y0), s(P,_,_)), % Start with player 0. Player 1-P wins.
P = 0,
!, % commit to the minimum.
Y = Y0.