in this two player game, each player secretly picks two numbers, one of which is his own starting number and the other is his opponents goal number. numbers are allowed to be any integer value between 1 and 256. then both players reveal the numbers, and may use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, to try to get to the goal number using only numbers they generate from their starting value.
for example, player A may pick start 36 goal 47, and player B may pick start 123 goal 123.
player A does 36/36 for 1. player B does 123/123 for 1.
player A does 1+1 for 2. player B does 1+1 for 2.
player A does 1+2 for 3. player B does 1+2 for 3.
player A does 36*3 for 104. player B does 123/3 for 41.
player A does 36/2 for 18. player B does 41+3 for 44.
player A does 104+18 for 126. player B does 44 +3 for 47. therefore player B wins.
note ties are possible if both players get it in the same number of operations.
so you know the drill, whats the best starting value and worst ending value, assuming you don't know what your opponent is going to pick?