The Tower of Hanoi

The Tower of Hanoi is a puzzle that consists of 3 pegs and a number of disks. Each disk has a different diameter. Initially, the disks are stacked on a single peg. Larger disks are placed under smaller disks. The object of the game is to move all disks from one peg to another. Only one disk may be moved at a time and a disk may only be placed on top of another disk if the disk that is being moved has a smaller diameter.

The puzzle was first published by the French mathematician Edouard Lucas in 1883.

The Tower of Hanoi

This animated image of the Tower of Hanoi was copied from a page maintained by John Beidler.

See also The Tower of Hanoi Legend