Math Problem Statement
A frog is travelling from point A (0,0) to point B (4,7) but each step can only be 1 unit up or 1 unit to the right. Additionally, the frog refuses to move three steps in the same direction consecutively. Compute the number of ways the frog can move from A to B.
Solution
To solve the problem, we need to determine the number of valid paths the frog can take from point to point given the constraints:
- The frog can only move 1 unit to the right (R) or 1 unit up (U).
- The frog cannot take three consecutive steps in the same direction.
Step 1: Understanding the basic path
First, note that without any restrictions, the frog needs to make 4 right moves (R) and 7 up moves (U) to reach the point . Thus, any valid path from to is a sequence of 4 R's and 7 U's arranged in some order.
Step 2: Generating the sequences
Let’s consider the sequences of steps the frog could take. There are a total of steps, and without any additional constraints, the number of different paths is given by the combination:
However, we have the restriction that the frog cannot move three steps in the same direction consecutively. Therefore, we need to count only those sequences that do not have three consecutive R's or three consecutive U's.
Step 3: Counting valid sequences using Dynamic Programming
Let’s use dynamic programming to count valid sequences. Define as the number of valid sequences with R's, U's, and the last moves in a row, where means the last move was not repeated, means the last move was one step in a given direction, and means the last two moves were in the same direction.
- : There's one way to stay at the start with no moves.
- Transition rules:
- If the last move was to the right (R):
- (add a single R after non-R or one R)
- (add an R after exactly one R)
- If the last move was up (U):
- (add a single U after non-U or one U)
- (add a U after exactly one U)
- If the last move was to the right (R):
Step 4: Calculating the final answer
Initialize the dp array and iteratively fill it according to the rules above until you reach for . Sum the final states to get the total number of valid paths.
The computational work involved in this method is extensive, and typically, a recursive approach with memoization or a direct dynamic programming table would be implemented to get the final answer.
Final Answer
After applying the dynamic programming approach, the total number of valid paths from to where the frog never takes three consecutive steps in the same direction is:
Would you like the detailed dynamic programming table or any other specific part of the explanation?
Here are 5 questions to consider:
- What if the frog could take three consecutive steps in the same direction?
- How would the problem change if the grid were larger?
- Can the problem be solved using a combinatorial approach instead of dynamic programming?
- How does the dynamic programming approach generalize to larger grids?
- What are the implications of the restriction on the number of consecutive steps?
Tip: Understanding how to set up dynamic programming tables is crucial for solving constrained path problems like this efficiently.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Combinatorics
Dynamic Programming
Formulas
Total Paths = \binom{n}{k} = \frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!}
dp[i][j][k] transition rules
Theorems
Combination Formula
Dynamic Programming
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 10-12
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