{"group":{"id":1,"name":"Community","lockable":false,"created_at":"2012-01-18T18:02:15.000Z","updated_at":"2026-05-26T00:16:20.000Z","description":"Problems submitted by members of the MATLAB Central community.","is_default":true,"created_by":161519,"badge_id":null,"featured":false,"trending":false,"solution_count_in_trending_period":0,"trending_last_calculated":"2026-05-26T00:00:00.000Z","image_id":null,"published":true,"community_created":false,"status_id":2,"is_default_group_for_player":false,"deleted_by":null,"deleted_at":null,"restored_by":null,"restored_at":null,"description_opc":null,"description_html":null,"published_at":null},"problems":[{"id":2085,"title":"Sudoku Solver - Standard 9x9","description":"Solve a Standard 9x9 \u003chttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku Sudoku\u003e. Values 1 thru 9 occur in each row, column, and the nine non-overlapping 3x3 matrices starting at the top left corner. \u003chttp://www.free-sudoku.com/sudoku.php?dchoix=evil Sudoku practice site\u003e.\r\n\r\n*Input:* m, a 9x9 matrix of values 0 thru 9. Unknowns are 0s.\r\n\r\n*Output:* mout, a 9x9 matrix of values 1 thru 9 that satisfy Sudoku rules.\r\n\r\n*Scoring:* Time (msec) to solve the Hard Sudoku\r\n\r\n*Example:*\r\n\r\n  m         mout\r\n  390701506 398721546\r\n  042890701 542896731\r\n  106540890 176543892\r\n  820600150 829674153\r\n  400138009 457138269\r\n  031002087 631952487\r\n  065087304 965287314\r\n  703065920 713465928\r\n  204309075 284319675\r\n\r\n*Sudoku Variations:*\r\n\r\nFuture challenges will involve the Sudoku variations Diagonal, Arrow(Sums), Inequality, Irregular, and others as they present themselves.\r\n\r\n*Algorithm Spoiler:*\r\nSudoku's can be readily solved using minimal choice recursion with consistency check. A key step is an index map of all indices that have mutual value exclusion (row,col,3x3), idxmap[81,27]. Another key step is to have an Evolve function that implements all single option values determined by the idxmap. A critical performance enhancement is a Sudoku Consistency Checker that checks for illegal replications of values. Illegal placements by Evolve occur when an incorrect value is asserted into the matrix during recursion trials. The recursive solver finds an idx with minimum options based on idxmap. The values for the idx location are asserted, Evolved, Consistency Checked, and then recursion call if Consistent. When all is Consistent and no unknowns remain the Sudoku is solved. Solution times are in the milli-seconds even for Evil, minimum 17 value, Sudokus.","description_html":"\u003cp\u003eSolve a Standard 9x9 \u003ca href = \"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku\"\u003eSudoku\u003c/a\u003e. Values 1 thru 9 occur in each row, column, and the nine non-overlapping 3x3 matrices starting at the top left corner. \u003ca href = \"http://www.free-sudoku.com/sudoku.php?dchoix=evil\"\u003eSudoku practice site\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eInput:\u003c/b\u003e m, a 9x9 matrix of values 0 thru 9. Unknowns are 0s.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOutput:\u003c/b\u003e mout, a 9x9 matrix of values 1 thru 9 that satisfy Sudoku rules.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eScoring:\u003c/b\u003e Time (msec) to solve the Hard Sudoku\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eExample:\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cpre class=\"language-matlab\"\u003em         mout\r\n390701506 398721546\r\n042890701 542896731\r\n106540890 176543892\r\n820600150 829674153\r\n400138009 457138269\r\n031002087 631952487\r\n065087304 965287314\r\n703065920 713465928\r\n204309075 284319675\r\n\u003c/pre\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSudoku Variations:\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFuture challenges will involve the Sudoku variations Diagonal, Arrow(Sums), Inequality, Irregular, and others as they present themselves.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlgorithm Spoiler:\u003c/b\u003e\r\nSudoku's can be readily solved using minimal choice recursion with consistency check. A key step is an index map of all indices that have mutual value exclusion (row,col,3x3), idxmap[81,27]. Another key step is to have an Evolve function that implements all single option values determined by the idxmap. A critical performance enhancement is a Sudoku Consistency Checker that checks for illegal replications of values. Illegal placements by Evolve occur when an incorrect value is asserted into the matrix during recursion trials. The recursive solver finds an idx with minimum options based on idxmap. The values for the idx location are asserted, Evolved, Consistency Checked, and then recursion call if Consistent. When all is Consistent and no unknowns remain the Sudoku is solved. Solution times are in the milli-seconds even for Evil, minimum 17 value, Sudokus.\u003c/p\u003e","function_template":"function mout=sudoku_solver(m)\r\n% m is a 9x9 Sudoku array with 0 for unknown values\r\n% create mout a consistent sudoku array\r\n  mout=m;\r\nend","test_suite":"assignin('caller','score',500);\r\n%%\r\n% Test 1\r\nmstr=['012300007'; '040600010'; '078900020'; '000000040'; '100000002'; '060000000'; '080001230'; '090004060'; '300007890']; \r\n% convert string to array\r\nm=zeros(9);\r\nfor i=1:9\r\n m(i,:)=mstr(i,:)-'0'  ; \r\nend\r\n\r\ntic\r\nmout=sudoku_solver(m)\r\ntoc\r\n\r\nvalid=all(arrayfun(@(i) all(sum([mout mout']==i)),1:length(mout)));\r\nassert(valid==1)\r\n\r\nptr=find(m\u003e0);\r\nvalid2=isequal(m(ptr),mout(ptr));\r\nassert(valid2==1)\r\n\r\n%%\r\n% Test 2\r\nmstr=['000004500'; '000003600'; '432008700'; '867000000'; '000000000'; '000000417'; '001900854'; '006400000'; '003700000']; \r\n% convert string to array\r\nm=zeros(9);\r\nfor i=1:9\r\n m(i,:)=mstr(i,:)-'0'  ; \r\nend\r\n\r\ntic\r\nmout=sudoku_solver(m)\r\ntoc\r\n\r\nvalid=all(arrayfun(@(i) all(sum([mout mout']==i)),1:length(mout)));\r\nassert(valid==1)\r\n\r\nptr=find(m\u003e0);\r\nvalid2=isequal(m(ptr),mout(ptr));\r\nassert(valid2==1)\r\n\r\n%%\r\n% Test 3\r\nmstr=['120034000'; '000000056'; '000200000'; '007800002'; '600000001'; '500006300'; '000008000'; '340000000'; '000560078']; \r\n% convert string to array\r\nm=zeros(9);\r\nfor i=1:9\r\n m(i,:)=mstr(i,:)-'0'  ; \r\nend\r\n\r\ntic\r\nmout=sudoku_solver(m)\r\ntoc\r\n\r\nvalid=all(arrayfun(@(i) all(sum([mout mout']==i)),1:length(mout)));\r\nassert(valid==1)\r\n\r\nptr=find(m\u003e0);\r\nvalid2=isequal(m(ptr),mout(ptr));\r\nassert(valid2==1)\r\n\r\n\r\n%%\r\n% Timed Test on a Hard Sudoku\r\n% Non-Valid answer creates a Max score but not a fail\r\n% Hard Sudoku\r\nmstr=['005700009'; '030090010'; '100005300'; '600004700'; '040010050'; '002500001'; '004600002'; '080020040'; '200008600']; \r\n% convert string to array\r\nm=zeros(9);\r\nfor i=1:9\r\n m(i,:)=mstr(i,:)-'0'  ; \r\nend\r\n\r\ntime0=cputime;\r\n mout=sudoku_solver(m)\r\netime=(cputime-time0)*1000 % msec\r\nvalid=all(arrayfun(@(i) all(sum([mout mout']==i)),1:length(mout)));\r\nptr=find(m\u003e0);\r\nvalid2=isequal(m(ptr),mout(ptr));\r\n% Not Asserting for Valid answer\r\nif ~valid,etime=500;end\r\nif ~valid2,etime=500;end\r\nassignin('caller','score',min(500,floor(etime)));","published":true,"deleted":false,"likes_count":8,"comments_count":2,"created_by":3097,"edited_by":null,"edited_at":null,"deleted_by":null,"deleted_at":null,"solvers_count":54,"test_suite_updated_at":null,"rescore_all_solutions":false,"group_id":1,"created_at":"2014-01-02T00:31:17.000Z","updated_at":"2026-05-24T13:06:11.000Z","published_at":"2014-01-02T01:30:54.000Z","restored_at":null,"restored_by":null,"spam":false,"simulink":false,"admin_reviewed":false,"description_opc":"{\"relationships\":[{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/document\",\"targetMode\":\"\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId1\",\"target\":\"/matlab/document.xml\"},{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/output\",\"targetMode\":\"\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId2\",\"target\":\"/matlab/output.xml\"}],\"parts\":[{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"relationship\":[],\"contentType\":\"application/vnd.mathworks.matlab.code.document+xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\"?\u003e\\n\u003cw:document xmlns:w=\\\"http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/wordprocessingml/2006/main\\\"\u003e\u003cw:body\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eSolve a Standard 9x9\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:hyperlink w:docLocation=\\\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku\\\"\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eSudoku\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:hyperlink\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e. Values 1 thru 9 occur in each row, column, and the nine non-overlapping 3x3 matrices starting at the top left corner.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:hyperlink w:docLocation=\\\"http://www.free-sudoku.com/sudoku.php?dchoix=evil\\\"\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eSudoku practice site\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:hyperlink\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eInput:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e m, a 9x9 matrix of values 0 thru 9. Unknowns are 0s.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eOutput:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e mout, a 9x9 matrix of values 1 thru 9 that satisfy Sudoku rules.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eScoring:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e Time (msec) to solve the Hard Sudoku\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eExample:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[m         mout\\n390701506 398721546\\n042890701 542896731\\n106540890 176543892\\n820600150 829674153\\n400138009 457138269\\n031002087 631952487\\n065087304 965287314\\n703065920 713465928\\n204309075 284319675]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eSudoku Variations:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eFuture challenges will involve the Sudoku variations Diagonal, Arrow(Sums), Inequality, Irregular, and others as they present themselves.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eAlgorithm Spoiler:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e Sudoku's can be readily solved using minimal choice recursion with consistency check. A key step is an index map of all indices that have mutual value exclusion (row,col,3x3), idxmap[81,27]. Another key step is to have an Evolve function that implements all single option values determined by the idxmap. A critical performance enhancement is a Sudoku Consistency Checker that checks for illegal replications of values. Illegal placements by Evolve occur when an incorrect value is asserted into the matrix during recursion trials. The recursive solver finds an idx with minimum options based on idxmap. The values for the idx location are asserted, Evolved, Consistency Checked, and then recursion call if Consistent. When all is Consistent and no unknowns remain the Sudoku is solved. Solution times are in the milli-seconds even for Evil, minimum 17 value, Sudokus.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003c/w:body\u003e\u003c/w:document\u003e\"},{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/output.xml\",\"contentType\":\"text/xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\" standalone=\\\"no\\\" ?\u003e\u003cembeddedOutputs\u003e\u003cmetaData\u003e\u003cevaluationState\u003emanual\u003c/evaluationState\u003e\u003clayoutState\u003ecode\u003c/layoutState\u003e\u003coutputStatus\u003eready\u003c/outputStatus\u003e\u003c/metaData\u003e\u003coutputArray type=\\\"array\\\"/\u003e\u003cregionArray type=\\\"array\\\"/\u003e\u003c/embeddedOutputs\u003e\"}]}"},{"id":96,"title":"Knight's Tour Checker","description":"Given a matrix a, determine whether or not a legal \u003chttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight's_tour knight's tour\u003e is present. The knight's tour always follows the pattern 1, 2, 3, ... but it need not fill the entire matrix. Any unused squares contain zeros. Your function should return true if the counting sequence from 1 to n represents a knight's tour, and false if not.\r\n\r\nExample\r\n\r\nThe matrix a as given below is a legal knight's tour. The middle square is unreachable, but since it contains a zero, it satisfies the condition. The function should return TRUE.\r\n\r\n  7     2     5\r\n  4     0     8\r\n  1     6     3\r\n\r\nHere is another legal (if short) knight's tour. The test suite will always contain at least one move (i.e. the counting sequence [1 2]). Note the matrix is not required to be square.\r\n\r\n  1     0     0\r\n  0     0     2\r\n \r\nHere is an illegal knight's tour. Everything is fine up until the jump from 14 to 15, which is illegal because it jumps from row 4 to row 1.\r\n\r\n 15     5    12     3\r\n  0     2     9     6\r\n  8    11     4    13\r\n  1    14     7    10","description_html":"\u003cp\u003eGiven a matrix a, determine whether or not a legal \u003ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight's_tour\"\u003eknight's tour\u003c/a\u003e is present. The knight's tour always follows the pattern 1, 2, 3, ... but it need not fill the entire matrix. Any unused squares contain zeros. Your function should return true if the counting sequence from 1 to n represents a knight's tour, and false if not.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExample\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe matrix a as given below is a legal knight's tour. The middle square is unreachable, but since it contains a zero, it satisfies the condition. The function should return TRUE.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cpre class=\"language-matlab\"\u003e7     2     5\r\n4     0     8\r\n1     6     3\r\n\u003c/pre\u003e\u003cp\u003eHere is another legal (if short) knight's tour. The test suite will always contain at least one move (i.e. the counting sequence [1 2]). Note the matrix is not required to be square.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cpre class=\"language-matlab\"\u003e1     0     0\r\n0     0     2\r\n\u003c/pre\u003e\u003cp\u003eHere is an illegal knight's tour. Everything is fine up until the jump from 14 to 15, which is illegal because it jumps from row 4 to row 1.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cpre\u003e 15     5    12     3\r\n  0     2     9     6\r\n  8    11     4    13\r\n  1    14     7    10\u003c/pre\u003e","function_template":"function tf = knights_tour(a)\r\n  tf = true;\r\nend","test_suite":"%%\r\n\r\na = ...\r\n[ 7     2     5\r\n  4     0     8\r\n  1     6     3];\r\ntf_correct = true;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = ...\r\n[ 1     0   0\r\n  0     0   2];\r\ntf_correct = true;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = ...\r\n[ 15     5    12     3\r\n   0     2     9     6\r\n   8    11     4    13\r\n   1    14     7    10];\r\ntf_correct = false;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = ...\r\n[  0     5    12     3\r\n  15     2     9     6\r\n   8    11     4    13\r\n   1    14     7    10];\r\ntf_correct = true;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = [22 29 4 31 16 35;3 32 23 34 5 14;28 21 30 15 36 17;9 2 33 24 13 6;20 27 8 11 18 25;1 10 19 26 7 12];\r\ntf_correct = true;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = [22 29 4 31 16 35;3 32 23 34 5 14;28 21 30 15 0 17;2 9 33 24 13 6;20 27 8 11 18 25;1 10 19 26 7 12];\r\ntf_correct = false;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = [1 0 0;0 0 0;2 0 0];\r\ntf_correct = false;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))","published":true,"deleted":false,"likes_count":24,"comments_count":4,"created_by":1,"edited_by":null,"edited_at":null,"deleted_by":null,"deleted_at":null,"solvers_count":1476,"test_suite_updated_at":"2016-01-13T18:56:25.000Z","rescore_all_solutions":false,"group_id":2,"created_at":"2012-01-18T01:00:30.000Z","updated_at":"2026-05-04T00:24:12.000Z","published_at":"2012-01-18T01:00:30.000Z","restored_at":null,"restored_by":null,"spam":false,"simulink":false,"admin_reviewed":false,"description_opc":"{\"relationships\":[{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/document\",\"targetMode\":\"\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId1\",\"target\":\"/matlab/document.xml\"},{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/output\",\"targetMode\":\"\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId2\",\"target\":\"/matlab/output.xml\"}],\"parts\":[{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"relationship\":[],\"contentType\":\"application/vnd.mathworks.matlab.code.document+xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\"?\u003e\\n\u003cw:document xmlns:w=\\\"http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/wordprocessingml/2006/main\\\"\u003e\u003cw:body\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eGiven a matrix a, determine whether or not a legal\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:hyperlink w:docLocation=\\\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight's_tour\\\"\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eknight's tour\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:hyperlink\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e is present. The knight's tour always follows the pattern 1, 2, 3, ... but it need not fill the entire matrix. Any unused squares contain zeros. Your function should return true if the counting sequence from 1 to n represents a knight's tour, and false if not.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eExample\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eThe matrix a as given below is a legal knight's tour. The middle square is unreachable, but since it contains a zero, it satisfies the condition. The function should return TRUE.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[7     2     5\\n4     0     8\\n1     6     3]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eHere is another legal (if short) knight's tour. The test suite will always contain at least one move (i.e. the counting sequence [1 2]). Note the matrix is not required to be square.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[1     0     0\\n0     0     2]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eHere is an illegal knight's tour. Everything is fine up until the jump from 14 to 15, which is illegal because it jumps from row 4 to row 1.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[ 15     5    12     3\\n  0     2     9     6\\n  8    11     4    13\\n  1    14     7    10]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003c/w:body\u003e\u003c/w:document\u003e\"},{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/output.xml\",\"contentType\":\"text/xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\" standalone=\\\"no\\\" ?\u003e\u003cembeddedOutputs\u003e\u003cmetaData\u003e\u003cevaluationState\u003emanual\u003c/evaluationState\u003e\u003clayoutState\u003ecode\u003c/layoutState\u003e\u003coutputStatus\u003eready\u003c/outputStatus\u003e\u003c/metaData\u003e\u003coutputArray type=\\\"array\\\"/\u003e\u003cregionArray type=\\\"array\\\"/\u003e\u003c/embeddedOutputs\u003e\"}]}"},{"id":42842,"title":"The sliding puzzle: 15","description":"If you are unfamiliar with the sliding puzzle, enter the command fifteen in your MATLAB command window (or search online, of course). In this problem you are tasked with solving the puzzle.\r\nGiven a scrambled classic 4-by-4 sliding puzzle, return a set of moves that solves it.\r\nThe puzzle is represented by a size [4 4] array, p, with integers from 1 to 15 representing the different tiles, and 0 representing the open slot. A single move is represented by an integer that is the linear index of the the tile you wish to slide into an adjacent open slot. A solution is represented by a row vector, m, of moves, the application of which results in a correctly arranged puzzle.\r\nThe solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\r\nExample: (the leading zeros are added only for easier visualization)\r\n p = [ 01 02 03 04;\r\n\r\n       05 10 06 07;\r\n\r\n       09 00 11 08;\r\n\r\n       13 14 15 12]\r\n\r\n m = [6 10 14 15 16]","description_html":"\u003cdiv style = \"text-align: start; line-height: 20.44px; min-height: 0px; white-space: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, monospace; font-style: normal; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none solid rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 439.938px; display: block; min-width: 0px; padding-block-start: 0px; padding-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 407px 219.969px; transform-origin: 407px 219.969px; vertical-align: baseline; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 42px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 21px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 21px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eIf you are unfamiliar with the sliding puzzle, enter the command\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic; \"\u003efifteen\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e in your MATLAB command window (or search online, of course). In this problem you are tasked with solving the puzzle.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 10.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 10.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eGiven a scrambled classic 4-by-4 sliding puzzle, return a set of moves that solves it.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 84px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 42px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 42px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eThe puzzle is represented by a size [4 4] array, p, with integers from 1 to 15 representing the different tiles, and 0 representing the open slot. A single move is represented by an integer that is the linear index of the the tile you wish to slide into an adjacent open slot. A solution is represented by a row vector, m, of moves, the application of which results in a correctly arranged puzzle.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 42px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 21px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 21px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eThe solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 10.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 10.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eExample: (the leading zeros are added only for easier visualization)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); block-size: 183.938px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-end-end-radius: 4px; border-end-start-radius: 4px; border-start-end-radius: 4px; border-start-start-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; margin-block-end: 10px; margin-block-start: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-inline-end: 3px; margin-inline-start: 3px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 10px; perspective-origin: 404px 91.9688px; transform-origin: 404px 91.9688px; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 3px; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e p = [ 01 02 03 04;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e       05 10 06 07;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e       09 00 11 08;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e       13 14 15 12]\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e m = [6 10 14 15 16]\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e","function_template":"function m = sliding(p)\r\n  m = -1;\r\nend","test_suite":"%%\r\nfiletext = fileread('sliding.m');\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'6 10 14 15 16')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'6,10,14,15,16')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'eval')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'assign')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'echo')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'freepass')))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [1 2 3 4;5 10 6 7;9 0 11 8;13 14 15 12];\r\nm = sliding(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero = find(p == 0);\r\n    [rzero czero] = ind2sub(size(p),zero);\r\n    [rmove cmove] = ind2sub(size(p),m(i));\r\n    if abs(rzero + czero - rmove - cmove) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1 2 3 4;5 6 7 8;9 10 11 12;13 14 15 0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [6 3 0 11;7 14 8 5;15 1 2 4;13 9 10 12];\r\nm = sliding(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero = find(p == 0);\r\n    [rzero czero] = ind2sub(size(p),zero);\r\n    [rmove cmove] = ind2sub(size(p),m(i));\r\n    if abs(rzero + czero - rmove - cmove) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1 2 3 4;5 6 7 8;9 10 11 12;13 14 15 0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [8 2 3 13;1 6 10 9;15 14 0 5;11 12 4 7];\r\nm = sliding(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero = find(p == 0);\r\n    [rzero czero] = ind2sub(size(p),zero);\r\n    [rmove cmove] = ind2sub(size(p),m(i));\r\n    if abs(rzero + czero - rmove - cmove) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1 2 3 4;5 6 7 8;9 10 11 12;13 14 15 0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [11 7 15 9;3 1 0 8;5 12 13 4;14 2 10 6];\r\nm = sliding(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero = find(p == 0);\r\n    [rzero czero] = ind2sub(size(p),zero);\r\n    [rmove cmove] = ind2sub(size(p),m(i));\r\n    if abs(rzero + czero - rmove - cmove) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1 2 3 4;5 6 7 8;9 10 11 12;13 14 15 0]))","published":true,"deleted":false,"likes_count":6,"comments_count":3,"created_by":15521,"edited_by":15521,"edited_at":"2022-11-18T05:36:02.000Z","deleted_by":null,"deleted_at":null,"solvers_count":29,"test_suite_updated_at":"2022-11-18T05:36:02.000Z","rescore_all_solutions":false,"group_id":1,"created_at":"2016-04-30T15:10:14.000Z","updated_at":"2026-05-24T13:53:06.000Z","published_at":"2016-04-30T15:10:14.000Z","restored_at":null,"restored_by":null,"spam":null,"simulink":false,"admin_reviewed":false,"description_opc":"{\"parts\":[{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"contentType\":\"application/vnd.mathworks.matlab.code.document+xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\"?\u003e\u003cw:document xmlns:w=\\\"http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/wordprocessingml/2006/main\\\"\u003e\u003cw:body\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eIf you are unfamiliar with the sliding puzzle, enter the command\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:i/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003efifteen\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e in your MATLAB command window (or search online, of course). In this problem you are tasked with solving the puzzle.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eGiven a scrambled classic 4-by-4 sliding puzzle, return a set of moves that solves it.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eThe puzzle is represented by a size [4 4] array, p, with integers from 1 to 15 representing the different tiles, and 0 representing the open slot. A single move is represented by an integer that is the linear index of the the tile you wish to slide into an adjacent open slot. A solution is represented by a row vector, m, of moves, the application of which results in a correctly arranged puzzle.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eThe solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eExample: (the leading zeros are added only for easier visualization)\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[ p = [ 01 02 03 04;\\n\\n       05 10 06 07;\\n\\n       09 00 11 08;\\n\\n       13 14 15 12]\\n\\n m = [6 10 14 15 16]]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003c/w:body\u003e\u003c/w:document\u003e\",\"relationship\":null}],\"relationships\":[{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/document\",\"target\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId1\"}]}"},{"id":44376,"title":"The sliding puzzle: 3D","description":"This is an extension of problem 42842. In this case, the puzzle is three-dimensional and is of size 3x3x3. Of the 27 positions in the puzzle, 26 are occupied by cubes numbered 1 thru 26, while the remaining position is empty. You can slide an adjacent cube into the empty position, similarly to sliding an adjacent tile into the empty position in the 15 puzzle.\r\nIn this case, for simplicity, the puzzle is represented by a vectorized form of the puzzle, such that the 3D form of the puzzle can be obtained by reshape(p,[3 3 3]). Therefore, a solved cube shall look like this:\r\n p = [1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]\r\nGiven the initial state vector, p, return a vector, m, comprising a sequence of integers, representing the linear indices of the cubes you wish to slide, in turn, into the empty position, in order to solve the puzzle.\r\nAs before, the solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\r\nExample:\r\n p = [0;2;3;1;5;6;4;7;9;10;11;12;13;17;14;16;8;18;19;20;21;22;23;15;25;26;24]\r\n\r\n m = [4 7 8 17 14 15 24 27]","description_html":"\u003cdiv style = \"text-align: start; line-height: 20.44px; min-height: 0px; white-space: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, monospace; font-style: normal; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none solid rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 348.75px; display: block; min-width: 0px; padding-block-start: 0px; padding-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 407px 174.375px; transform-origin: 407px 174.375px; vertical-align: baseline; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 63px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 31.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 31.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eThis is an extension of\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003ca target='_blank' href = \"https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/cody/problems/42842\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eproblem 42842\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e. In this case, the puzzle is three-dimensional and is of size 3x3x3. Of the 27 positions in the puzzle, 26 are occupied by cubes numbered 1 thru 26, while the remaining position is empty. You can slide an adjacent cube into the empty position, similarly to sliding an adjacent tile into the empty position in the 15 puzzle.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 42px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 21px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 21px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eIn this case, for simplicity, the puzzle is represented by a vectorized form of the puzzle, such that the 3D form of the puzzle can be obtained by\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic; \"\u003ereshape(p,[3 3 3])\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e. Therefore, a solved cube shall look like this:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-end-end-radius: 4px; border-end-start-radius: 4px; border-start-end-radius: 4px; border-start-start-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; margin-block-end: 10px; margin-block-start: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-inline-end: 3px; margin-inline-start: 3px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 10px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 3px; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e p = [1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 42px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 10px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; perspective-origin: 384px 21px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 21px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eGiven the initial state vector, p, return a vector, m, comprising a sequence of integers, representing the linear indices of the cubes you wish to slide, in turn, into the empty position, in order to solve the puzzle.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 42px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 21px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 21px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eAs before, the solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 10.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 10.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eExample:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); block-size: 61.3125px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-end-end-radius: 4px; border-end-start-radius: 4px; border-start-end-radius: 4px; border-start-start-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; margin-block-end: 10px; margin-block-start: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-inline-end: 3px; margin-inline-start: 3px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 10px; perspective-origin: 404px 30.6562px; transform-origin: 404px 30.6562px; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 3px; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e p = [0;2;3;1;5;6;4;7;9;10;11;12;13;17;14;16;8;18;19;20;21;22;23;15;25;26;24]\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e m = [4 7 8 17 14 15 24 27]\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e","function_template":"function m = sliding3d(p)\r\n  m = -1;\r\nend","test_suite":"%%\r\nfiletext = fileread('sliding3d.m');\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'eval')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'assign')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'echo')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'freepass')))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [0;2;3;1;5;6;4;7;9;10;11;12;13;17;14;16;8;18;19;20;21;22;23;15;25;26;24];\r\nm = sliding3d(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero=find(p == 0);\r\n    [a0 b0 c0] = ind2sub([3 3 3],zero);\r\n    [a1 b1 c1] = ind2sub([3 3 3],m(i));\r\n    if abs(a1 - a0) + abs(b1 - b0) + abs(c1 - c0) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [1;0;2;4;8;5;7;9;18;10;21;12;11;14;15;16;17;6;13;3;19;20;22;24;25;23;26];\r\nm = sliding3d(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero=find(p == 0);\r\n    [a0 b0 c0] = ind2sub([3 3 3],zero);\r\n    [a1 b1 c1] = ind2sub([3 3 3],m(i));\r\n    if abs(a1 - a0) + abs(b1 - b0) + abs(c1 - c0) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [1;4;3;19;10;6;7;2;9;20;11;0;16;14;12;5;13;18;22;23;21;17;15;24;25;8;26];\r\nm = sliding3d(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero=find(p == 0);\r\n    [a0 b0 c0] = ind2sub([3 3 3],zero);\r\n    [a1 b1 c1] = ind2sub([3 3 3],m(i));\r\n    if abs(a1 - a0) + abs(b1 - b0) + abs(c1 - c0) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [1;5;3;10;7;0;13;9;24;22;2;15;16;11;17;12;8;6;19;20;21;26;14;23;4;25;18];\r\nm = sliding3d(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero=find(p == 0);\r\n    [a0 b0 c0] = ind2sub([3 3 3],zero);\r\n    [a1 b1 c1] = ind2sub([3 3 3],m(i));\r\n    if abs(a1 - a0) + abs(b1 - b0) + abs(c1 - c0) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]))\r\n","published":true,"deleted":false,"likes_count":14,"comments_count":9,"created_by":15521,"edited_by":15521,"edited_at":"2022-11-18T05:31:46.000Z","deleted_by":null,"deleted_at":null,"solvers_count":53,"test_suite_updated_at":"2022-11-18T05:31:46.000Z","rescore_all_solutions":false,"group_id":35,"created_at":"2017-10-11T12:38:57.000Z","updated_at":"2026-04-18T14:13:22.000Z","published_at":"2017-10-16T01:51:01.000Z","restored_at":null,"restored_by":null,"spam":null,"simulink":false,"admin_reviewed":false,"description_opc":"{\"parts\":[{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"contentType\":\"application/vnd.mathworks.matlab.code.document+xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\"?\u003e\u003cw:document xmlns:w=\\\"http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/wordprocessingml/2006/main\\\"\u003e\u003cw:body\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eThis is an extension of\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:hyperlink w:docLocation=\\\"https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/cody/problems/42842\\\"\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eproblem 42842\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:hyperlink\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e. In this case, the puzzle is three-dimensional and is of size 3x3x3. Of the 27 positions in the puzzle, 26 are occupied by cubes numbered 1 thru 26, while the remaining position is empty. You can slide an adjacent cube into the empty position, similarly to sliding an adjacent tile into the empty position in the 15 puzzle.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eIn this case, for simplicity, the puzzle is represented by a vectorized form of the puzzle, such that the 3D form of the puzzle can be obtained by\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:i/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003ereshape(p,[3 3 3])\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e. Therefore, a solved cube shall look like this:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[ p = [1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eGiven the initial state vector, p, return a vector, m, comprising a sequence of integers, representing the linear indices of the cubes you wish to slide, in turn, into the empty position, in order to solve the puzzle.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eAs before, the solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eExample:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[ p = [0;2;3;1;5;6;4;7;9;10;11;12;13;17;14;16;8;18;19;20;21;22;23;15;25;26;24]\\n\\n m = [4 7 8 17 14 15 24 27]]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003c/w:body\u003e\u003c/w:document\u003e\",\"relationship\":null}],\"relationships\":[{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/document\",\"target\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId1\"}]}"}],"problem_search":{"problems":[{"id":2085,"title":"Sudoku Solver - Standard 9x9","description":"Solve a Standard 9x9 \u003chttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku Sudoku\u003e. Values 1 thru 9 occur in each row, column, and the nine non-overlapping 3x3 matrices starting at the top left corner. \u003chttp://www.free-sudoku.com/sudoku.php?dchoix=evil Sudoku practice site\u003e.\r\n\r\n*Input:* m, a 9x9 matrix of values 0 thru 9. Unknowns are 0s.\r\n\r\n*Output:* mout, a 9x9 matrix of values 1 thru 9 that satisfy Sudoku rules.\r\n\r\n*Scoring:* Time (msec) to solve the Hard Sudoku\r\n\r\n*Example:*\r\n\r\n  m         mout\r\n  390701506 398721546\r\n  042890701 542896731\r\n  106540890 176543892\r\n  820600150 829674153\r\n  400138009 457138269\r\n  031002087 631952487\r\n  065087304 965287314\r\n  703065920 713465928\r\n  204309075 284319675\r\n\r\n*Sudoku Variations:*\r\n\r\nFuture challenges will involve the Sudoku variations Diagonal, Arrow(Sums), Inequality, Irregular, and others as they present themselves.\r\n\r\n*Algorithm Spoiler:*\r\nSudoku's can be readily solved using minimal choice recursion with consistency check. A key step is an index map of all indices that have mutual value exclusion (row,col,3x3), idxmap[81,27]. Another key step is to have an Evolve function that implements all single option values determined by the idxmap. A critical performance enhancement is a Sudoku Consistency Checker that checks for illegal replications of values. Illegal placements by Evolve occur when an incorrect value is asserted into the matrix during recursion trials. The recursive solver finds an idx with minimum options based on idxmap. The values for the idx location are asserted, Evolved, Consistency Checked, and then recursion call if Consistent. When all is Consistent and no unknowns remain the Sudoku is solved. Solution times are in the milli-seconds even for Evil, minimum 17 value, Sudokus.","description_html":"\u003cp\u003eSolve a Standard 9x9 \u003ca href = \"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku\"\u003eSudoku\u003c/a\u003e. Values 1 thru 9 occur in each row, column, and the nine non-overlapping 3x3 matrices starting at the top left corner. \u003ca href = \"http://www.free-sudoku.com/sudoku.php?dchoix=evil\"\u003eSudoku practice site\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eInput:\u003c/b\u003e m, a 9x9 matrix of values 0 thru 9. Unknowns are 0s.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOutput:\u003c/b\u003e mout, a 9x9 matrix of values 1 thru 9 that satisfy Sudoku rules.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eScoring:\u003c/b\u003e Time (msec) to solve the Hard Sudoku\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eExample:\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cpre class=\"language-matlab\"\u003em         mout\r\n390701506 398721546\r\n042890701 542896731\r\n106540890 176543892\r\n820600150 829674153\r\n400138009 457138269\r\n031002087 631952487\r\n065087304 965287314\r\n703065920 713465928\r\n204309075 284319675\r\n\u003c/pre\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSudoku Variations:\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFuture challenges will involve the Sudoku variations Diagonal, Arrow(Sums), Inequality, Irregular, and others as they present themselves.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlgorithm Spoiler:\u003c/b\u003e\r\nSudoku's can be readily solved using minimal choice recursion with consistency check. A key step is an index map of all indices that have mutual value exclusion (row,col,3x3), idxmap[81,27]. Another key step is to have an Evolve function that implements all single option values determined by the idxmap. A critical performance enhancement is a Sudoku Consistency Checker that checks for illegal replications of values. Illegal placements by Evolve occur when an incorrect value is asserted into the matrix during recursion trials. The recursive solver finds an idx with minimum options based on idxmap. The values for the idx location are asserted, Evolved, Consistency Checked, and then recursion call if Consistent. When all is Consistent and no unknowns remain the Sudoku is solved. Solution times are in the milli-seconds even for Evil, minimum 17 value, Sudokus.\u003c/p\u003e","function_template":"function mout=sudoku_solver(m)\r\n% m is a 9x9 Sudoku array with 0 for unknown values\r\n% create mout a consistent sudoku array\r\n  mout=m;\r\nend","test_suite":"assignin('caller','score',500);\r\n%%\r\n% Test 1\r\nmstr=['012300007'; '040600010'; '078900020'; '000000040'; '100000002'; '060000000'; '080001230'; '090004060'; '300007890']; \r\n% convert string to array\r\nm=zeros(9);\r\nfor i=1:9\r\n m(i,:)=mstr(i,:)-'0'  ; \r\nend\r\n\r\ntic\r\nmout=sudoku_solver(m)\r\ntoc\r\n\r\nvalid=all(arrayfun(@(i) all(sum([mout mout']==i)),1:length(mout)));\r\nassert(valid==1)\r\n\r\nptr=find(m\u003e0);\r\nvalid2=isequal(m(ptr),mout(ptr));\r\nassert(valid2==1)\r\n\r\n%%\r\n% Test 2\r\nmstr=['000004500'; '000003600'; '432008700'; '867000000'; '000000000'; '000000417'; '001900854'; '006400000'; '003700000']; \r\n% convert string to array\r\nm=zeros(9);\r\nfor i=1:9\r\n m(i,:)=mstr(i,:)-'0'  ; \r\nend\r\n\r\ntic\r\nmout=sudoku_solver(m)\r\ntoc\r\n\r\nvalid=all(arrayfun(@(i) all(sum([mout mout']==i)),1:length(mout)));\r\nassert(valid==1)\r\n\r\nptr=find(m\u003e0);\r\nvalid2=isequal(m(ptr),mout(ptr));\r\nassert(valid2==1)\r\n\r\n%%\r\n% Test 3\r\nmstr=['120034000'; '000000056'; '000200000'; '007800002'; '600000001'; '500006300'; '000008000'; '340000000'; '000560078']; \r\n% convert string to array\r\nm=zeros(9);\r\nfor i=1:9\r\n m(i,:)=mstr(i,:)-'0'  ; \r\nend\r\n\r\ntic\r\nmout=sudoku_solver(m)\r\ntoc\r\n\r\nvalid=all(arrayfun(@(i) all(sum([mout mout']==i)),1:length(mout)));\r\nassert(valid==1)\r\n\r\nptr=find(m\u003e0);\r\nvalid2=isequal(m(ptr),mout(ptr));\r\nassert(valid2==1)\r\n\r\n\r\n%%\r\n% Timed Test on a Hard Sudoku\r\n% Non-Valid answer creates a Max score but not a fail\r\n% Hard Sudoku\r\nmstr=['005700009'; '030090010'; '100005300'; '600004700'; '040010050'; '002500001'; '004600002'; '080020040'; '200008600']; \r\n% convert string to array\r\nm=zeros(9);\r\nfor i=1:9\r\n m(i,:)=mstr(i,:)-'0'  ; \r\nend\r\n\r\ntime0=cputime;\r\n mout=sudoku_solver(m)\r\netime=(cputime-time0)*1000 % msec\r\nvalid=all(arrayfun(@(i) all(sum([mout mout']==i)),1:length(mout)));\r\nptr=find(m\u003e0);\r\nvalid2=isequal(m(ptr),mout(ptr));\r\n% Not Asserting for Valid answer\r\nif ~valid,etime=500;end\r\nif ~valid2,etime=500;end\r\nassignin('caller','score',min(500,floor(etime)));","published":true,"deleted":false,"likes_count":8,"comments_count":2,"created_by":3097,"edited_by":null,"edited_at":null,"deleted_by":null,"deleted_at":null,"solvers_count":54,"test_suite_updated_at":null,"rescore_all_solutions":false,"group_id":1,"created_at":"2014-01-02T00:31:17.000Z","updated_at":"2026-05-24T13:06:11.000Z","published_at":"2014-01-02T01:30:54.000Z","restored_at":null,"restored_by":null,"spam":false,"simulink":false,"admin_reviewed":false,"description_opc":"{\"relationships\":[{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/document\",\"targetMode\":\"\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId1\",\"target\":\"/matlab/document.xml\"},{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/output\",\"targetMode\":\"\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId2\",\"target\":\"/matlab/output.xml\"}],\"parts\":[{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"relationship\":[],\"contentType\":\"application/vnd.mathworks.matlab.code.document+xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\"?\u003e\\n\u003cw:document xmlns:w=\\\"http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/wordprocessingml/2006/main\\\"\u003e\u003cw:body\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eSolve a Standard 9x9\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:hyperlink w:docLocation=\\\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku\\\"\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eSudoku\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:hyperlink\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e. Values 1 thru 9 occur in each row, column, and the nine non-overlapping 3x3 matrices starting at the top left corner.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:hyperlink w:docLocation=\\\"http://www.free-sudoku.com/sudoku.php?dchoix=evil\\\"\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eSudoku practice site\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:hyperlink\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eInput:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e m, a 9x9 matrix of values 0 thru 9. Unknowns are 0s.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eOutput:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e mout, a 9x9 matrix of values 1 thru 9 that satisfy Sudoku rules.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eScoring:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e Time (msec) to solve the Hard Sudoku\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eExample:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[m         mout\\n390701506 398721546\\n042890701 542896731\\n106540890 176543892\\n820600150 829674153\\n400138009 457138269\\n031002087 631952487\\n065087304 965287314\\n703065920 713465928\\n204309075 284319675]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eSudoku Variations:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eFuture challenges will involve the Sudoku variations Diagonal, Arrow(Sums), Inequality, Irregular, and others as they present themselves.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:b/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eAlgorithm Spoiler:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e Sudoku's can be readily solved using minimal choice recursion with consistency check. A key step is an index map of all indices that have mutual value exclusion (row,col,3x3), idxmap[81,27]. Another key step is to have an Evolve function that implements all single option values determined by the idxmap. A critical performance enhancement is a Sudoku Consistency Checker that checks for illegal replications of values. Illegal placements by Evolve occur when an incorrect value is asserted into the matrix during recursion trials. The recursive solver finds an idx with minimum options based on idxmap. The values for the idx location are asserted, Evolved, Consistency Checked, and then recursion call if Consistent. When all is Consistent and no unknowns remain the Sudoku is solved. Solution times are in the milli-seconds even for Evil, minimum 17 value, Sudokus.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003c/w:body\u003e\u003c/w:document\u003e\"},{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/output.xml\",\"contentType\":\"text/xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\" standalone=\\\"no\\\" ?\u003e\u003cembeddedOutputs\u003e\u003cmetaData\u003e\u003cevaluationState\u003emanual\u003c/evaluationState\u003e\u003clayoutState\u003ecode\u003c/layoutState\u003e\u003coutputStatus\u003eready\u003c/outputStatus\u003e\u003c/metaData\u003e\u003coutputArray type=\\\"array\\\"/\u003e\u003cregionArray type=\\\"array\\\"/\u003e\u003c/embeddedOutputs\u003e\"}]}"},{"id":96,"title":"Knight's Tour Checker","description":"Given a matrix a, determine whether or not a legal \u003chttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight's_tour knight's tour\u003e is present. The knight's tour always follows the pattern 1, 2, 3, ... but it need not fill the entire matrix. Any unused squares contain zeros. Your function should return true if the counting sequence from 1 to n represents a knight's tour, and false if not.\r\n\r\nExample\r\n\r\nThe matrix a as given below is a legal knight's tour. The middle square is unreachable, but since it contains a zero, it satisfies the condition. The function should return TRUE.\r\n\r\n  7     2     5\r\n  4     0     8\r\n  1     6     3\r\n\r\nHere is another legal (if short) knight's tour. The test suite will always contain at least one move (i.e. the counting sequence [1 2]). Note the matrix is not required to be square.\r\n\r\n  1     0     0\r\n  0     0     2\r\n \r\nHere is an illegal knight's tour. Everything is fine up until the jump from 14 to 15, which is illegal because it jumps from row 4 to row 1.\r\n\r\n 15     5    12     3\r\n  0     2     9     6\r\n  8    11     4    13\r\n  1    14     7    10","description_html":"\u003cp\u003eGiven a matrix a, determine whether or not a legal \u003ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight's_tour\"\u003eknight's tour\u003c/a\u003e is present. The knight's tour always follows the pattern 1, 2, 3, ... but it need not fill the entire matrix. Any unused squares contain zeros. Your function should return true if the counting sequence from 1 to n represents a knight's tour, and false if not.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExample\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe matrix a as given below is a legal knight's tour. The middle square is unreachable, but since it contains a zero, it satisfies the condition. The function should return TRUE.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cpre class=\"language-matlab\"\u003e7     2     5\r\n4     0     8\r\n1     6     3\r\n\u003c/pre\u003e\u003cp\u003eHere is another legal (if short) knight's tour. The test suite will always contain at least one move (i.e. the counting sequence [1 2]). Note the matrix is not required to be square.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cpre class=\"language-matlab\"\u003e1     0     0\r\n0     0     2\r\n\u003c/pre\u003e\u003cp\u003eHere is an illegal knight's tour. Everything is fine up until the jump from 14 to 15, which is illegal because it jumps from row 4 to row 1.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cpre\u003e 15     5    12     3\r\n  0     2     9     6\r\n  8    11     4    13\r\n  1    14     7    10\u003c/pre\u003e","function_template":"function tf = knights_tour(a)\r\n  tf = true;\r\nend","test_suite":"%%\r\n\r\na = ...\r\n[ 7     2     5\r\n  4     0     8\r\n  1     6     3];\r\ntf_correct = true;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = ...\r\n[ 1     0   0\r\n  0     0   2];\r\ntf_correct = true;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = ...\r\n[ 15     5    12     3\r\n   0     2     9     6\r\n   8    11     4    13\r\n   1    14     7    10];\r\ntf_correct = false;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = ...\r\n[  0     5    12     3\r\n  15     2     9     6\r\n   8    11     4    13\r\n   1    14     7    10];\r\ntf_correct = true;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = [22 29 4 31 16 35;3 32 23 34 5 14;28 21 30 15 36 17;9 2 33 24 13 6;20 27 8 11 18 25;1 10 19 26 7 12];\r\ntf_correct = true;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = [22 29 4 31 16 35;3 32 23 34 5 14;28 21 30 15 0 17;2 9 33 24 13 6;20 27 8 11 18 25;1 10 19 26 7 12];\r\ntf_correct = false;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))\r\n\r\n%%\r\n\r\na = [1 0 0;0 0 0;2 0 0];\r\ntf_correct = false;\r\nassert(isequal(knights_tour(a),tf_correct))","published":true,"deleted":false,"likes_count":24,"comments_count":4,"created_by":1,"edited_by":null,"edited_at":null,"deleted_by":null,"deleted_at":null,"solvers_count":1476,"test_suite_updated_at":"2016-01-13T18:56:25.000Z","rescore_all_solutions":false,"group_id":2,"created_at":"2012-01-18T01:00:30.000Z","updated_at":"2026-05-04T00:24:12.000Z","published_at":"2012-01-18T01:00:30.000Z","restored_at":null,"restored_by":null,"spam":false,"simulink":false,"admin_reviewed":false,"description_opc":"{\"relationships\":[{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/document\",\"targetMode\":\"\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId1\",\"target\":\"/matlab/document.xml\"},{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/output\",\"targetMode\":\"\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId2\",\"target\":\"/matlab/output.xml\"}],\"parts\":[{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"relationship\":[],\"contentType\":\"application/vnd.mathworks.matlab.code.document+xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\"?\u003e\\n\u003cw:document xmlns:w=\\\"http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/wordprocessingml/2006/main\\\"\u003e\u003cw:body\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eGiven a matrix a, determine whether or not a legal\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:hyperlink w:docLocation=\\\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight's_tour\\\"\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eknight's tour\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:hyperlink\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e is present. The knight's tour always follows the pattern 1, 2, 3, ... but it need not fill the entire matrix. Any unused squares contain zeros. Your function should return true if the counting sequence from 1 to n represents a knight's tour, and false if not.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eExample\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eThe matrix a as given below is a legal knight's tour. The middle square is unreachable, but since it contains a zero, it satisfies the condition. The function should return TRUE.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[7     2     5\\n4     0     8\\n1     6     3]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eHere is another legal (if short) knight's tour. The test suite will always contain at least one move (i.e. the counting sequence [1 2]). Note the matrix is not required to be square.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[1     0     0\\n0     0     2]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eHere is an illegal knight's tour. Everything is fine up until the jump from 14 to 15, which is illegal because it jumps from row 4 to row 1.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[ 15     5    12     3\\n  0     2     9     6\\n  8    11     4    13\\n  1    14     7    10]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003c/w:body\u003e\u003c/w:document\u003e\"},{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/output.xml\",\"contentType\":\"text/xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\" standalone=\\\"no\\\" ?\u003e\u003cembeddedOutputs\u003e\u003cmetaData\u003e\u003cevaluationState\u003emanual\u003c/evaluationState\u003e\u003clayoutState\u003ecode\u003c/layoutState\u003e\u003coutputStatus\u003eready\u003c/outputStatus\u003e\u003c/metaData\u003e\u003coutputArray type=\\\"array\\\"/\u003e\u003cregionArray type=\\\"array\\\"/\u003e\u003c/embeddedOutputs\u003e\"}]}"},{"id":42842,"title":"The sliding puzzle: 15","description":"If you are unfamiliar with the sliding puzzle, enter the command fifteen in your MATLAB command window (or search online, of course). In this problem you are tasked with solving the puzzle.\r\nGiven a scrambled classic 4-by-4 sliding puzzle, return a set of moves that solves it.\r\nThe puzzle is represented by a size [4 4] array, p, with integers from 1 to 15 representing the different tiles, and 0 representing the open slot. A single move is represented by an integer that is the linear index of the the tile you wish to slide into an adjacent open slot. A solution is represented by a row vector, m, of moves, the application of which results in a correctly arranged puzzle.\r\nThe solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\r\nExample: (the leading zeros are added only for easier visualization)\r\n p = [ 01 02 03 04;\r\n\r\n       05 10 06 07;\r\n\r\n       09 00 11 08;\r\n\r\n       13 14 15 12]\r\n\r\n m = [6 10 14 15 16]","description_html":"\u003cdiv style = \"text-align: start; line-height: 20.44px; min-height: 0px; white-space: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, monospace; font-style: normal; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none solid rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 439.938px; display: block; min-width: 0px; padding-block-start: 0px; padding-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 407px 219.969px; transform-origin: 407px 219.969px; vertical-align: baseline; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 42px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 21px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 21px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eIf you are unfamiliar with the sliding puzzle, enter the command\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic; \"\u003efifteen\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e in your MATLAB command window (or search online, of course). In this problem you are tasked with solving the puzzle.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 10.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 10.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eGiven a scrambled classic 4-by-4 sliding puzzle, return a set of moves that solves it.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 84px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 42px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 42px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eThe puzzle is represented by a size [4 4] array, p, with integers from 1 to 15 representing the different tiles, and 0 representing the open slot. A single move is represented by an integer that is the linear index of the the tile you wish to slide into an adjacent open slot. A solution is represented by a row vector, m, of moves, the application of which results in a correctly arranged puzzle.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 42px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 21px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 21px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eThe solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 10.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 10.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eExample: (the leading zeros are added only for easier visualization)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); block-size: 183.938px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-end-end-radius: 4px; border-end-start-radius: 4px; border-start-end-radius: 4px; border-start-start-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; margin-block-end: 10px; margin-block-start: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-inline-end: 3px; margin-inline-start: 3px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 10px; perspective-origin: 404px 91.9688px; transform-origin: 404px 91.9688px; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 3px; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e p = [ 01 02 03 04;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e       05 10 06 07;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e       09 00 11 08;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e       13 14 15 12]\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e m = [6 10 14 15 16]\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e","function_template":"function m = sliding(p)\r\n  m = -1;\r\nend","test_suite":"%%\r\nfiletext = fileread('sliding.m');\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'6 10 14 15 16')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'6,10,14,15,16')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'eval')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'assign')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'echo')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'freepass')))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [1 2 3 4;5 10 6 7;9 0 11 8;13 14 15 12];\r\nm = sliding(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero = find(p == 0);\r\n    [rzero czero] = ind2sub(size(p),zero);\r\n    [rmove cmove] = ind2sub(size(p),m(i));\r\n    if abs(rzero + czero - rmove - cmove) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1 2 3 4;5 6 7 8;9 10 11 12;13 14 15 0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [6 3 0 11;7 14 8 5;15 1 2 4;13 9 10 12];\r\nm = sliding(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero = find(p == 0);\r\n    [rzero czero] = ind2sub(size(p),zero);\r\n    [rmove cmove] = ind2sub(size(p),m(i));\r\n    if abs(rzero + czero - rmove - cmove) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1 2 3 4;5 6 7 8;9 10 11 12;13 14 15 0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [8 2 3 13;1 6 10 9;15 14 0 5;11 12 4 7];\r\nm = sliding(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero = find(p == 0);\r\n    [rzero czero] = ind2sub(size(p),zero);\r\n    [rmove cmove] = ind2sub(size(p),m(i));\r\n    if abs(rzero + czero - rmove - cmove) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1 2 3 4;5 6 7 8;9 10 11 12;13 14 15 0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [11 7 15 9;3 1 0 8;5 12 13 4;14 2 10 6];\r\nm = sliding(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero = find(p == 0);\r\n    [rzero czero] = ind2sub(size(p),zero);\r\n    [rmove cmove] = ind2sub(size(p),m(i));\r\n    if abs(rzero + czero - rmove - cmove) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1 2 3 4;5 6 7 8;9 10 11 12;13 14 15 0]))","published":true,"deleted":false,"likes_count":6,"comments_count":3,"created_by":15521,"edited_by":15521,"edited_at":"2022-11-18T05:36:02.000Z","deleted_by":null,"deleted_at":null,"solvers_count":29,"test_suite_updated_at":"2022-11-18T05:36:02.000Z","rescore_all_solutions":false,"group_id":1,"created_at":"2016-04-30T15:10:14.000Z","updated_at":"2026-05-24T13:53:06.000Z","published_at":"2016-04-30T15:10:14.000Z","restored_at":null,"restored_by":null,"spam":null,"simulink":false,"admin_reviewed":false,"description_opc":"{\"parts\":[{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"contentType\":\"application/vnd.mathworks.matlab.code.document+xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\"?\u003e\u003cw:document xmlns:w=\\\"http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/wordprocessingml/2006/main\\\"\u003e\u003cw:body\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eIf you are unfamiliar with the sliding puzzle, enter the command\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:i/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003efifteen\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e in your MATLAB command window (or search online, of course). In this problem you are tasked with solving the puzzle.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eGiven a scrambled classic 4-by-4 sliding puzzle, return a set of moves that solves it.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eThe puzzle is represented by a size [4 4] array, p, with integers from 1 to 15 representing the different tiles, and 0 representing the open slot. A single move is represented by an integer that is the linear index of the the tile you wish to slide into an adjacent open slot. A solution is represented by a row vector, m, of moves, the application of which results in a correctly arranged puzzle.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eThe solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eExample: (the leading zeros are added only for easier visualization)\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[ p = [ 01 02 03 04;\\n\\n       05 10 06 07;\\n\\n       09 00 11 08;\\n\\n       13 14 15 12]\\n\\n m = [6 10 14 15 16]]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003c/w:body\u003e\u003c/w:document\u003e\",\"relationship\":null}],\"relationships\":[{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/document\",\"target\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId1\"}]}"},{"id":44376,"title":"The sliding puzzle: 3D","description":"This is an extension of problem 42842. In this case, the puzzle is three-dimensional and is of size 3x3x3. Of the 27 positions in the puzzle, 26 are occupied by cubes numbered 1 thru 26, while the remaining position is empty. You can slide an adjacent cube into the empty position, similarly to sliding an adjacent tile into the empty position in the 15 puzzle.\r\nIn this case, for simplicity, the puzzle is represented by a vectorized form of the puzzle, such that the 3D form of the puzzle can be obtained by reshape(p,[3 3 3]). Therefore, a solved cube shall look like this:\r\n p = [1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]\r\nGiven the initial state vector, p, return a vector, m, comprising a sequence of integers, representing the linear indices of the cubes you wish to slide, in turn, into the empty position, in order to solve the puzzle.\r\nAs before, the solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\r\nExample:\r\n p = [0;2;3;1;5;6;4;7;9;10;11;12;13;17;14;16;8;18;19;20;21;22;23;15;25;26;24]\r\n\r\n m = [4 7 8 17 14 15 24 27]","description_html":"\u003cdiv style = \"text-align: start; line-height: 20.44px; min-height: 0px; white-space: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, monospace; font-style: normal; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none solid rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 348.75px; display: block; min-width: 0px; padding-block-start: 0px; padding-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 407px 174.375px; transform-origin: 407px 174.375px; vertical-align: baseline; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 63px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 31.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 31.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eThis is an extension of\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003ca target='_blank' href = \"https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/cody/problems/42842\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eproblem 42842\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e. In this case, the puzzle is three-dimensional and is of size 3x3x3. Of the 27 positions in the puzzle, 26 are occupied by cubes numbered 1 thru 26, while the remaining position is empty. You can slide an adjacent cube into the empty position, similarly to sliding an adjacent tile into the empty position in the 15 puzzle.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 42px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 21px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 21px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eIn this case, for simplicity, the puzzle is represented by a vectorized form of the puzzle, such that the 3D form of the puzzle can be obtained by\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic; \"\u003ereshape(p,[3 3 3])\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003e. Therefore, a solved cube shall look like this:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-end-end-radius: 4px; border-end-start-radius: 4px; border-start-end-radius: 4px; border-start-start-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; margin-block-end: 10px; margin-block-start: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-inline-end: 3px; margin-inline-start: 3px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 10px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 3px; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e p = [1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 42px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 10px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; perspective-origin: 384px 21px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 21px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eGiven the initial state vector, p, return a vector, m, comprising a sequence of integers, representing the linear indices of the cubes you wish to slide, in turn, into the empty position, in order to solve the puzzle.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 42px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 21px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 21px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eAs before, the solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"block-size: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin-block-end: 9px; margin-block-start: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-inline-end: 10px; margin-inline-start: 4px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; perspective-origin: 384px 10.5px; text-align: left; transform-origin: 384px 10.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-right: 10px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; display: inline; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; transform-origin: 0px 0px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"\"\u003eExample:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); block-size: 61.3125px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-end-end-radius: 4px; border-end-start-radius: 4px; border-start-end-radius: 4px; border-start-start-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; margin-block-end: 10px; margin-block-start: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-inline-end: 3px; margin-inline-start: 3px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 10px; perspective-origin: 404px 30.6562px; transform-origin: 404px 30.6562px; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 3px; \"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e p = [0;2;3;1;5;6;4;7;9;10;11;12;13;17;14;16;8;18;19;20;21;22;23;15;25;26;24]\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); block-size: 20.4375px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-end-end-radius: 0px; border-end-start-radius: 0px; border-inline-end-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-end-style: solid; border-inline-end-width: 1px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-inline-start-style: solid; border-inline-start-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-start-end-radius: 0px; border-start-start-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; margin-block-end: 0px; margin-block-start: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-inline-start: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-block-size: 18px; min-height: 18px; padding-inline-start: 4px; padding-left: 4px; perspective-origin: 404px 10.2188px; transform-origin: 404px 10.2188px; white-space: nowrap; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"block-size: auto; border-inline-end-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-end-style: none; border-inline-end-width: 0px; border-inline-start-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-inline-start-style: none; border-inline-start-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-inline-end: 45px; margin-right: 45px; min-block-size: 0px; min-height: 0px; padding-inline-start: 0px; padding-left: 0px; perspective-origin: 0px 0px; tab-size: 4; transform-origin: 0px 0px; white-space: pre; margin-right: 45px; \"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-inline-end: 0px; margin-right: 0px; \"\u003e m = [4 7 8 17 14 15 24 27]\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e","function_template":"function m = sliding3d(p)\r\n  m = -1;\r\nend","test_suite":"%%\r\nfiletext = fileread('sliding3d.m');\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'eval')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'assign')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'echo')))\r\nassert(isempty(strfind(filetext,'freepass')))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [0;2;3;1;5;6;4;7;9;10;11;12;13;17;14;16;8;18;19;20;21;22;23;15;25;26;24];\r\nm = sliding3d(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero=find(p == 0);\r\n    [a0 b0 c0] = ind2sub([3 3 3],zero);\r\n    [a1 b1 c1] = ind2sub([3 3 3],m(i));\r\n    if abs(a1 - a0) + abs(b1 - b0) + abs(c1 - c0) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [1;0;2;4;8;5;7;9;18;10;21;12;11;14;15;16;17;6;13;3;19;20;22;24;25;23;26];\r\nm = sliding3d(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero=find(p == 0);\r\n    [a0 b0 c0] = ind2sub([3 3 3],zero);\r\n    [a1 b1 c1] = ind2sub([3 3 3],m(i));\r\n    if abs(a1 - a0) + abs(b1 - b0) + abs(c1 - c0) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [1;4;3;19;10;6;7;2;9;20;11;0;16;14;12;5;13;18;22;23;21;17;15;24;25;8;26];\r\nm = sliding3d(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero=find(p == 0);\r\n    [a0 b0 c0] = ind2sub([3 3 3],zero);\r\n    [a1 b1 c1] = ind2sub([3 3 3],m(i));\r\n    if abs(a1 - a0) + abs(b1 - b0) + abs(c1 - c0) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]))\r\n\r\n%%\r\np = [1;5;3;10;7;0;13;9;24;22;2;15;16;11;17;12;8;6;19;20;21;26;14;23;4;25;18];\r\nm = sliding3d(p);\r\nfor i = 1:numel(m)\r\n  if round(m(i)) == m(i) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003c= numel(p) \u0026\u0026 m(i) \u003e 0\r\n    zero=find(p == 0);\r\n    [a0 b0 c0] = ind2sub([3 3 3],zero);\r\n    [a1 b1 c1] = ind2sub([3 3 3],m(i));\r\n    if abs(a1 - a0) + abs(b1 - b0) + abs(c1 - c0) == 1\r\n      p([m(i) zero]) = p([zero m(i)]);\r\n    end\r\n  end\r\nend\r\nassert(isequal(p,[1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]))\r\n","published":true,"deleted":false,"likes_count":14,"comments_count":9,"created_by":15521,"edited_by":15521,"edited_at":"2022-11-18T05:31:46.000Z","deleted_by":null,"deleted_at":null,"solvers_count":53,"test_suite_updated_at":"2022-11-18T05:31:46.000Z","rescore_all_solutions":false,"group_id":35,"created_at":"2017-10-11T12:38:57.000Z","updated_at":"2026-04-18T14:13:22.000Z","published_at":"2017-10-16T01:51:01.000Z","restored_at":null,"restored_by":null,"spam":null,"simulink":false,"admin_reviewed":false,"description_opc":"{\"parts\":[{\"partUri\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"contentType\":\"application/vnd.mathworks.matlab.code.document+xml\",\"content\":\"\u003c?xml version=\\\"1.0\\\" encoding=\\\"UTF-8\\\"?\u003e\u003cw:document xmlns:w=\\\"http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/wordprocessingml/2006/main\\\"\u003e\u003cw:body\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eThis is an extension of\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:hyperlink w:docLocation=\\\"https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/cody/problems/42842\\\"\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eproblem 42842\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:hyperlink\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e. In this case, the puzzle is three-dimensional and is of size 3x3x3. Of the 27 positions in the puzzle, 26 are occupied by cubes numbered 1 thru 26, while the remaining position is empty. You can slide an adjacent cube into the empty position, similarly to sliding an adjacent tile into the empty position in the 15 puzzle.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eIn this case, for simplicity, the puzzle is represented by a vectorized form of the puzzle, such that the 3D form of the puzzle can be obtained by\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e \u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:rPr\u003e\u003cw:i/\u003e\u003c/w:rPr\u003e\u003cw:t\u003ereshape(p,[3 3 3])\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e. Therefore, a solved cube shall look like this:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[ p = [1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;0]]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eGiven the initial state vector, p, return a vector, m, comprising a sequence of integers, representing the linear indices of the cubes you wish to slide, in turn, into the empty position, in order to solve the puzzle.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eAs before, the solution does not have to be efficient. It must simply result in a correctly solved puzzle. Illegal moves, such as trying to slide a tile that is not adjacent to the open slot, will be ignored.\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"text\\\"/\u003e\u003cw:jc w:val=\\\"left\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003eExample:\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003cw:p\u003e\u003cw:pPr\u003e\u003cw:pStyle w:val=\\\"code\\\"/\u003e\u003c/w:pPr\u003e\u003cw:r\u003e\u003cw:t\u003e\u003c![CDATA[ p = [0;2;3;1;5;6;4;7;9;10;11;12;13;17;14;16;8;18;19;20;21;22;23;15;25;26;24]\\n\\n m = [4 7 8 17 14 15 24 27]]]\u003e\u003c/w:t\u003e\u003c/w:r\u003e\u003c/w:p\u003e\u003c/w:body\u003e\u003c/w:document\u003e\",\"relationship\":null}],\"relationships\":[{\"relationshipType\":\"http://schemas.mathworks.com/matlab/code/2013/relationships/document\",\"target\":\"/matlab/document.xml\",\"relationshipId\":\"rId1\"}]}"}],"errors":[],"facets":[[{"value":"Classic Game Puzzles","count":4,"selected":true},{"value":"Chess","count":1,"selected":false},{"value":"Cody Challenge","count":1,"selected":false},{"value":"Cody5:Hard","count":1,"selected":false},{"value":"Computer Games II","count":1,"selected":false},{"value":"Paper-\u0026-pencil Games","count":1,"selected":false}],[{"value":"hard","count":4,"selected":true}]],"term":"group:\"Classic Game Puzzles\" difficulty_rating_bin:hard","page":1,"per_page":50,"sort":"map(difficulty_value,0,0,999) asc"}}