Plato's Blocks
Time Limit: 1 Second Memory Limit: 32768 KB
Problem
Plato believed what we perceive is but a shadow of reality. Recent archaeological
excavations have uncovered evidence that this belief may have been encouraged
by Platos youthful amusement with cleverly-designed blocks. The blocks have
the curious property that, when held with any face toward a light source, they
cast shadows of various letters, numbers, shapes, and patterns. It is possible
for three faces incident to a corner to correspond to three different shadow
patterns. Opposite faces, of course, cast shadows which are mirror images of
one another.
The blocks are formed by gluing together small cubes to form a single, connected
object. As an example, the figures below show, layer by layer, the internal
structure of a block which can cast shadows of the letters E, G, or B.
Only a partial set of blocks was discovered, but the curious scientists
would like to determine what combinations of shadows are possible. Your program,
the solution to this problem, will help them! The program will input groups
of shadow patterns, and for each group will report whether or not a solid can
be constructed that will cast those three shadows.
Input
The input contains a sequence of data sets, each specifying a dimension and three shadow patterns. The first line of a data set contains a positive integer 1 <= n <= 20 that specifies the dimensions of the input patterns. The remainder of the data set consists of 3n lines, each containing a string of n X and - characters. Each group of n lines represents a pattern. Where an X appears a shadow should be cast by the final solid, and where a - appears, light should pass through. For this problem, the input patterns may be assumed to have at least one X along each edge of the pattern. The input is terminated by a line containing a single zero in place of a valid dimension.Output
For each data set in the input, output the data set number and one of the following
messages:
Valid set of patterns
Impossible combination
For a set of patterns to be considered valid, it must be possible to construct,
by gluing unit cubes together along their faces, a one-piece solid capable of
casting the shadow of each of the input patterns.
Sample Input
5 XXXXX X---- X--XX X---X XXXXX XXXXX X---- XXXXX X---- XXXXX XXXXX X---X XXXX- X---X XXXXX 3 X-- -X- --X XX- XXX -XX -XX XXX XX- 0
Sample Output
Data set 1: Valid set of patterns Data set 2: Impossible combinationSubmit
Source: Greater New York 2001