Problem:
In how many ways can the numbers be placed at the vertices of a regular -gon so that no two adjacent numbers differ by more than ? (Rotations and reflections are considered distinct.)
Problem:
In how many ways can the numbers be placed at the vertices of a regular -gon so that no two adjacent numbers differ by more than ? (Rotations and reflections are considered distinct.)
Solution:
. There are possible positions for the . The two numbers adjacent to the must be and ; there are two possible ways of placing these. The positions of these numbers uniquely determine the rest: for example, if lies clockwise from , then the number lying counterclockwise from must be ; the number lying clockwise from must be ; the number lying counterclockwise from must now be ; and so forth. Eventually, is placed adjacent to and , so we do get a valid configuration. Thus there are possible arrangements.