concepts · 1
concepts · 1
Essential concepts you should know before starting
Instead of counting row by row, count in L-shaped layers from the corner. Each layer adds an odd number of cells — and the running total is always a perfect square. Look at the top row of the grid. What's special about them!
An ancient puzzle about lockers, factors, and perfect squares
Understanding why perfect squares have odd number of factors
Did you notice the pattern?
Key Insight: Locker #N is toggled by Person K only if K is a factor of N.
Locker #6 toggled by: Person 1, 2, 3, 6 Because 1, 2, 3, 6 are factors of 6!
Test your understanding of the locker problem
In the 100 lockers problem, how many times is Locker #12 toggled?