I came across this node today: Struggling for puzzles and projects?, in which larsen shares a link to http://www.inwap.com/pdp10/hbaker/hakmem/hakmem.html, the HAKMEM document from MIT. A lot (nearly all of it) is over my head, but there is a page about proposed computer programs. I thought the problem of finding the smallest squared square was interesting, and started researching it. Of course, since that HAKMEM memo is now 30 years old, the smallest possible squared square has been well-documented. So now I'm wondering which, if any, of the other problems have been solved too.
Here's a quick list of the problems, in case one sparks a memory:
- 77: Count polyominos to order 20.
- 78: Solve minichess.
- 79: Solve the tiger sliding-block puzzle.
- 80:
Find the smallest squared square.
- 81: Count the magic squares of order 5.
- 82: Count the semigroups of 7 elements, and the groups of 256 elements.
- 83: Compute the integer-valued step function F(R), 0<R<1, the number of circles of radius R which fit into a unit circle.
- 84: Solve pentominos on an 8x8 checkerboard.
- 85: Dissections.
- 86: Find the number of domino coverings for various objects.
- 87: Analyze giveaway chess.
- 88: Analyze escalation chess.
- 89: Prove the pawns win in "4 Pawns."
- 90: Solve Teeko.
- 91:
Solve Five-in-a-row on an infinite board.
- 92: Solve Tic-Tac-Toe on a 4x4x4 board.
- 93: Solve Checkers.
- 94: Solve Hex on large boards.
- 95: Solve Chess.
- 96: Solve Go.
Update: Added a few strikethroughs. I'll keep adding them as I discover which problems have been solved.
"As information travels faster in the modern age, as our days are crawling by so slowly." -- DCFC