7. For APPLICANTS IN $\left\{ \begin{array} { l } \text { COMPUTER SCIENCE } \\ \text { COMPUTER SCIENCE \& PHILOSOPHY } \end{array} \right\}$ ONLY.
Quantiles is game for a single player. It is played with an inexhaustible supply of tiles, each bearing one of the symbols $\mathrm { A } , \mathrm { B }$ or C . In each move, the player lays down a row of tiles containing exactly one A and one B , but varying numbers of C 's. The rules are as follows:
- The player may play the basic rows CACBCC and CCACBCCC.
- If the player has already played rows of the form $r \mathrm {~A} s \mathrm {~B} t$ and $x \mathrm {~A} y \mathrm {~B} z$ (they may be the same row), where each of $r , s , t , x , y , z$ represents a sequence of C's, then he or she may add the row $r x \mathrm {~A} s y \mathrm {~B} t z$, in which copies of the sequences of C's from the previous rows are concatenated with an intervening A and B : this is called a join move. The original rows remain, and may be used again in subsequent join moves.
- No other rows may be played.
The player attempts to play one row after another so as to finish with a specified goal row.
(i) Give two examples of rows, other than basic rows, that may be played in the game.
(ii) Give two examples of rows, each containing exactly one A and one B , that may never be played, and explain why.
(iii) Let $\mathrm { C } ^ { n }$ denote an unbroken sequence of $n$ tiles each labelled with C . Can the goal row $\mathrm { C } ^ { 64 } \mathrm { AC } ^ { 48 } \mathrm { BC } ^ { 112 }$ be achieved? Justify your answer.
(iv) Can the goal row $\mathrm { C } ^ { 128 } \mathrm { AC } ^ { 48 } \mathrm { BC } ^ { 176 }$ be achieved? Justify your answer.
(v) The goal row $\mathrm { C } ^ { 31 } \mathrm { AC } ^ { 16 } \mathrm { BC } ^ { 47 }$ is achievable; show that it can be reached with 7 join moves.
(vi) In any game, we call a row useless if it repeats an earlier row or it is not used in a subsequent join move. What is the maximum number of join moves in a game that ends with $\mathrm { C } ^ { 31 } \mathrm { AC } ^ { 16 } \mathrm { BC } ^ { 47 }$ and contains no useless rows?
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