Subtraction Nim with Continuous Parameters

Abstract

When $S$ is a finite set of positive integers, we can consider classical Subtraction Nim with $S$ as the set of removable numbers. Even when $S$ consists of three elements, many questions remain unanswered. For example, we do not have a period formula of the Nim value. In this paper, we generalize $S$ to be a finite set of positive real numbers. We found that in some regions, we can give concrete formulae for the period and the Nim value function. In particular when $S$ consists of three elements, we found sufficient conditions for the Nim value function to be purely periodic with the period which is equal to the sum of two of elements of $S$. To be more precise, let $S=a,b,c$ with $0<a<b<c$, then for example when $a\le b\le 2a$ with $a+b\ge c$, the Nim value function is purely periodic with a period $a+c$. There are much more regions with precise period formulae. We have also some generalizations for the cases $|S|\ge 4$. Even when $S$ consists of integers, these results seem to be new.

36 pages, 5 figures