AIMCAT 0910

Shonika and Smaraki are playing a game where they pick up coins alternately from the coins kept on a table. The rules of the game say that .. each person has to pick up at least one coin in her turn .. no person can pick up more then 6 coins in each turn. The person who picks up the last coin from the table is the loser and the other person is the winner. Assume that both Shonika and Smaraki play intelligently so as to win the game.

118. If, at some stage of the game, there are 16 coins on the table, and it is Shonikas turn to pick up the coins, how many coins should she pick to ensure her win irrespective of what Smaraki does in later steps? (1) 1 (2)2 (3)3 (4)4

At one stage during the game, when there were 28 coins on the table and it was Smarakis turn, Smaraki had to leave to attend a phone call. Her sister Sonia who was watching the game volunteered to play for Smarika and picked up 2 coins. In Sonias move correct to ensure a win for Smaraki?

(1)Yes (2)No there are 28 coins

(3)She cannot win whatever she picks up when (4) Data insufficient

120. Some time during the game when it was Shonikas turn, there were 38

coins on the table. Without Shonikas realising it,Smaraki wanted to remove some coins from the table. How many coins should she remove to ensure her own win irrespective of what moves Shonika makes later? (1)4 (2)3 (3)2 (4)1

121. What is the least number of coins greater than 20 at the beginning of the game to ensure a win for Shonika if Smaraki makes the first move? (1)22 (2)24 (3)25 (4)26

122. If the rules of the game are changed such that the person clearing the table wins the game, the other rules remaining the same, how many coins should Shonika pick up when it is her turn to ensure a win for herself given that there are 18 coins on the table? (1)3 (2)4 (3)5 (4) It is not possible for Shonika to win