Solving the Chinese Ring Puzzle

In solving the Chinese ring puzzle, two important facts have to be known.

1.  The first ring can be put on or released from the handle (or the "sword") at any time.
 

2.  If the first up to the (n - 1)th rings are released but the nth ring is not, then the (n + 1)th can be released or put back onto the handle.
 

Using these two facts, we can somehow develop an induction or a coding method to solve the problem.
 
solu_0.jpg (9553 bytes)
 Start

Code : 11111
solu_1.jpg (9267 bytes)
 Step 1

Release the first ring

Code : 01111

Remark : We try to release the fifth ring.  However, basing on Fact 2, we have to remove the first, seond and thrid rings first.  In other words, we have to solve a 3-ring puzzle first.
solu_2.jpg (8860 bytes)
 Step 2

Release the third ring

Code : 01011
solu_3.jpg (9432 bytes)
 Step 3

Put back the first ring

Code : 11011
solu_4.jpg (9692 bytes)
 Step 4

Release both the first and second rings

Code : 00011

Remark : The first three rings are released.
solu_5.jpg (9187 bytes)
 Step 5

Release the fifth ring

Code : 00010
solu_6.jpg (8957 bytes)
 Step 6

Put back the first and second rings

Code : 11010

Remark : In order to release the fourth ring, we need to put back the first three rings and start the algorithm again.
solu_7.jpg (8760 bytes)
 Step 7

Release the first ring

Code : 01010
solu_8.jpg (8249 bytes)
 Step 8

Put back the third ring

Code : 01110
solu_9.jpg (8738 bytes)
 Step 9

Put back the first ring

Code : 11110

Remark : Actually, we are now solving a 4-ring puzzle!
solu_a.jpg (8639 bytes)
 Step 10

Release the first and seond rings

Code : 00110
solu_b.jpg (8962 bytes)
 Step 11

Release the fourth ring

Code : 00100
solu_c.jpg (8707 bytes)
 Step 12

Put back the first and seond rings

Code : 11100

Remark : Here is a 3-ring puzzle again!
solu_d.jpg (8560 bytes)
 Step 13

Release the first ring

Code : 01100

Compare this with step 1
solu_e.jpg (8107 bytes)
 Step 14

Release the thrid ring

Code : 01000

Compare this with step 2
solu_f.jpg (8975 bytes)
 Step 15

Put back the first ring

Code : 11000

Compare this with step 3
solu_g.jpg (10377 bytes)
 Step 16

Release both the first and seond rings and finish

Code : 00000

Compare this with step 4

Original page by  LEUNG CHI KIT