MathDB
2 thieves stole an open chain with 2k white and 2m black beads

Source: Israel Grosman Memorial Mathematical Olympiad 1995 p3

February 15, 2020
combinatorics

Problem Statement

Two thieves stole an open chain with 2k2k white beads and 2m2m black beads. They want to share the loot equally, by cutting the chain to pieces in such a way that each one gets kk white beads and mm black beads. What is the minimal number of cuts that is always sufficient?