Problem 52. What is the next step in Conway's Life?

Created by Cody Team

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Given a matrix A that represents the state of Conway's game of Life at one instant (time t=n), return the matrix B that represents the state of the game at the next instant (time t=n+1).
Assume a toroidal game board, so the edges of the matrix wrap left to right and top to bottom.
Examples:
 Input  A = [ 1   1   0   0
              0   1   0   0
              1   1   0   0
              0   0   0   0 ]
 Output B = [ 1   1   0   0
              0   0   1   0
              1   1   0   0
              0   0   0   0 ]
 Input  A = [ 0   1   1   0
              1   1   1   0
              0   0   1   0
              0   0   0   0 ]
 Output B = [ 1   0   1   1
              1   0   0   0
              0   0   1   1
              0   1   1   0 ]

Solve

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3857 Solutions
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Last Solution submitted on May 09, 2025

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11 Comments

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David Young on 5 Feb 2012

I think test sets should be designed to encourage general solutions. At present, the test set only has square boards - some more varied examples would make solvers seek code that is general.

mItk on 17 Oct 2016

Is there something wrong with the test suite? function B = life(A) B = A; end produces "Error using life Too many output arguments." See comment on solution 1019804.

mItk on 17 Oct 2016

I suppose the error "Error using life Too many output arguments." is due to shadowing. It seems thet test suite calls \toolbox\matlab\demos\life.m

shahriar memaran on 9 Mar 2017

I had so much fun with this problem. Thank you.

David Verrelli on 7 Feb 2018

Is there a syntax flaw in the Test Suite? Currently the first test displays with a first line of "%%A = [ ...", and in my solution (S 1435695) only the second test is displayed. Although apparently the first test is still being called (S 1435709)?

Hugo on 4 Mar 2022

Game of life is soo cool!

Brandon on 26 Jun 2023

There's a popular solution that is wrong, and people keep posting it. I am highly amused.

Peter on 22 Aug 2023

@Cody Team
The link to "Conway's game of Life" is blank!

Dyuman Joshi on 22 Aug 2023

Thanks for notifying @Peter, I have updated the link.

Jonah on 9 Sep 2023

Am I misunderstanding the rules to the game, or are two of the solutions that the site checks against incorrect

Yufei on 22 Jun 2024

I think the two of the solutions are wrong. Because it may misunderstand the corner...

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Problem 52. What is the next step in Conway's Life?

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Problem 52. What is the next step in Conway's Life?

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Last 200 Solutions

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Problem Recent Solvers656

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