Josephus

The Josephus problem is a famous theoretical puzzle from history and mathematics, named after the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. The scenario involves a group of people standing in a circle, where every second person is eliminated in succession until only one person remains. The problem asks: which position should you choose to be the last survivor? It illustrates concepts in combinatorics and algorithm design, showcasing strategy and mathematical reasoning. Josephus' own account relates to his survival in a similar situation during a siege, adding historical context to the mathematical problem.