Problem of the Month

• Everyone is welcome to participate, but only undergraduate OU students are eligible for the prizes.
• At the end of the academic year, a prize will be awarded to the undergraduate OU students with the most correct solutions.
• A complete solution to the problem must include a proof.
• Solutions to the Problem of the Month can be submitted in the Math Department's office (PHSC 423), or via email to nickmbmiller [at] ou [dot] edu
• Make sure that your submission includes your name and OU email.
• The deadline for submission is the last day of the month.
• The problem of the month during the summer months of May, June, July, and August will not be graded and are just for fun.

Winners of the academic year 2023/24 is Jacob Norris.

December 2024

Gobble gobble

A stuffed turkey is standing on a 99x99 square tiled grid. From its initial square, the turkey can walk straight ahead to any other square sharing a common edge, however it is so full that every time it walks to another square, it immediately must turn either right or left before repeating this process (e.g walking straight ahead and turning right/left at the next square). In order to exercise off some of the food, the turkey wants to walk in the longest loop it can, without repeating squares. What is the longest number of squares the turkey can traverse before returning home?