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Fifteen Puzzle: One Bad Swap

brainteaser
A square tray has sixteen spaces arranged in four rows of four. Fifteen tiles, numbered 1 through 15, can slide within the tray; the remaining space is empty. A move consists of sliding one tile horizontally or vertically into the empty space. The target arrangement lists the tiles in order from left to right and top to bottom, with the empty space after tile 15. Instead, begin with the same arrangement except that tiles 14 and 15 have exchanged places. The empty space is still in the bottom-right corner. Can any sequence of legal slides restore the target arrangement?

Hints

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3

Solution

Commit an attempt to unseal the proof. Write your answer — right or wrong, thinking it through is the point.

Can the swapped-tile position be solved?

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