Question

Find a pattern of button pushes that solves this Lights Out problem:
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Answer #1

Given L=

1 2 3 4 5 rows   

A 0 1 0 0 1
B 0 0 0 1 0
C 1 0 0 1 1
D 0 0 0 1 0

You would expect that all 25 buttons are needed, but actually we only need to use 17 of the 20buttons to solve any position

Number the rows 1-5, the columns A-D.

  1. For each light on row 1, press the button beneath it on row 2 to turn the light off. This way row 1 is completely unlit.
  2. Repeat step a for rows 2-4, so that now you only have lights on row 5. This is usually called 'chasing the lights'.
  3. If the light at A5 is on, press D1  
    If the light at B5 is on, press B1  
    If the light at C5 is on, press D1.
  4. Repeat steps a-b, chasing the lights down and it will be magically solved
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