Counting the Number of Squares Reachable in k Knight's Moves

Amanda M. Miller, David L. Farnsworth
2013 Open Journal of Discrete Mathematics  
Using geometric techniques, formulas for the number of squares that require k moves in order to be reached by a sole knight from its initial position on an infinite chessboard are derived. The number of squares reachable in exactly k moves are 1, 8, 32, 68, and 96 for k = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and 28k -20 for k ≥ 5. The cumulative number of squares reachable in k or fever moves are 1, 9, 41, and 109 for k = 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and 14k 2 -6k + 5 for k ≥ 4. Although these
more » ... ulas are known, the proofs that are presented are new and more mathematically accessible then preceding proofs.
doi:10.4236/ojdm.2013.33027 fatcat:ko7cvetlbnc75beb6z2bqzuq6u