On the Algorithmic Complexity of the Mastermind Game with Black-Peg Results

dc.creatorGoodrich, Michael T.
dc.date2009-04-30
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T13:13:57Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T13:13:57Z
dc.descriptionIn this paper, we study the algorithmic complexity of the Mastermind game, where results are single-color black pegs. This differs from the usual dual-color version of the game, but better corresponds to applications in genetics. We show that it is NP-complete to determine if a sequence of single-color Mastermind results have a satisfying vector. We also show how to devise efficient algorithms for discovering a hidden vector through single-color queries. Indeed, our algorithm improves a previous method of Chvatal by almost a factor of 2.
dc.descriptionExpanded version with a figure showing the Mastermind game
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0904.4911
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0904.4911
dc.identifierInformation Processing Letters, Volume 109, 675-678, 2009
dc.identifierdoi:10.1016/j.ipl.2009.02.021
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/230062
dc.subjectData Structures and Algorithms
dc.subjectComputational Complexity
dc.titleOn the Algorithmic Complexity of the Mastermind Game with Black-Peg Results
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