The approach is legit, since constructing a counterexample is a way to prove a theory is wrong. ¹

Computational mathematics - the use of computers for mathematics itself - is a hot and controversial topic.

I have more problems with calling it Veritasium's riddle, though I like the blog.

But I hope the nature of the solution is clearer now, because the success of large groups of prisoners is coupled. If they are member of the same cycle they either all succeed or all fail.

Imagine a hypothetical strategy coupling all prisoners, the success rate would be even 50% not only 30%.

Cheers Rolf
(addicted to the Perl Programming Language :)
see Wikisyntax for the Monastery

Update
¹) just the opposite isn't true, there are plenty of conjectures which "work" for a while... Till they don't.

Update

coincidentally I just watched a video from the same channel explaining to the end how hard it is to find a counterexample for a wrong conjecture: The Simplest Math Problem No One Can Solve - Collatz Conjecture

see also the Pólya conjecture

In reply to Re^4: Demo of the 100 Prisoners Problem using Perl by LanX
in thread Proving Veritasiums riddle using Perl by cavac

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