MathDB

Of the

9

people who reached the final stage of the competition, only

4

should receive a prize. The candidates were renumbered and lined up in a circle. Then a certain number

m

(possibly greater than

9

) and the direction of reference were determined. People began to be counted, starting from the first. Each one became a winner and was eliminated from the drawing, and counting, starting from the next, continued until four winners were identified. The first three prizes were awarded to three people who had numbers

2

7

and

5

in the original lineup (they were eliminated in that order). What number did the fourth winner of the competition have in the initial lineup?

Problem Statement