jelly beans revisited - achieving equality

[bonanova]

In a previous puzzle @plasmid found that by successively doubling the jelly beans on a plate by transferring from one of the other of three plates, it's possible to empty one of the plates.

Suppose the starting number of jelly beans distributed among three plates is a sufficiently nice multiple of 3, namely b = 3x2ⁿ. By making successive doubling moves, as in the first puzzle, is it always possible to end up with an equal number ( 2ⁿ ) of jelly beans on the three plates?

[phil1882]

i think so.

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for the first number n, n= 1, its fairly trivial, as rocdocmac showed. for larger values, the goal is to get it in a ratio of 1, 2 ,3. to do this, first, let's assume they are in some other configuration, with a<b<c. if a = 1, this is also trivial, we can use the binary approach until a,b c is in the right ratio. if a > 1 we can divide b/a and throw out remainder,  then use the the binary approach before.

for example, lets say  thee are 48 total beans, with 5 on a, 18 on b, and 25 on c. 18/5 = 3, so the 1's digit on b is 1, so transfer from b to a. a = 10 , b = 13, c = 25. now transfer from b to a one more time, a = 20, b = 3, c = 25  C/B, 8, so transfer from a to b, a = 17, b = 6 c = 25, a to b, a = 11, b = 12, c = 25. then form c to b,  a = 11, b = 24, c = 13.  b is now where we want. than transfer from c to a, a = 22, b = 24 c = 2. then form a to c. a = 20 b = 24 c = 4 a  = 16, b = 24 c = 8.

[rocdocmac]

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Kicking off with ... yes, if the distribution ratio on the 3 plates is 1:2:3

 

Edited February 7, 2018 by rocdocmac
moved to spolier

[bonanova]

  On 2/7/2018 at 12:01 PM, rocdocmac said:

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Kicking off with ... yes, if the distribution ratio on the 3 plates is 1:2:3

 

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Good start. Is it always possible to achieve a distribution ratio of 1:2:3? 

[rocdocmac]

Certainly!

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[bonanova]

Did OP leave out the part about starting from a random distribution of the (total number of) b = 3x2ⁿ beans on the plates? Apologies.