There are 100 numbers:
1,1,2,2,3,3,...,50,50
How can I get a sequence which has 1 number between two 1s, and two numbers between two 2s, three numbers between two 3s,..., and fifty numbers between two 50s using the 100 numbers?
Does anyone have a better idea than Bruteforce? Or prove it there's no solution when n = 50.
Thanks.
I think a good heuristic would be to start with the biggest numbers. You'll still need backtracking though.
The problem with the problem is that having a solution for n-1 usually doesn't help you much to find a solution for n.
Is it always possible? I can see the pattern is probable and not definite. It doesn't work for 1s or 1s and 2s.
If it is probablistic, the best idea would be to start with brute force and keep on eliminating wrong options as an when you encounter them.
I'm pretty sure I've seen this in Knuth's "The Art of Computer Programming". I'll look it up when I get home tonight.
The problem is known as Langford Pairing. From Wikipedia:
These sequences are named after C. Dudley Langford, who posed the problem of constructing them in 1958. As Knuth1 describes, the problem of listing ALL Langford pairings for a given
Ncan be solved as an instance of the exact cover problem (one of Karp's 21 NP-complete problem), but for largeNthe number of solutions can be calculated more efficiently by algebraic methods.1: The Art of Computer Programming, IV, Fascicle 0: Introduction to Combinatorial Algorithms and Boolean Functions
It's worth noting that there is no solution for N = 50. Solutions only exist for N = 4k or N = 4k - 1. This is proven in a paper by Roy A. Davies (On Langford's Problem II, Math. Gaz. 43, 253-255, 1959), which also gives the pattern to construct a single solution for any feasible N.
Here are some solutions that my quick and dirty brute force program was able to find for N < 100. Nearly all of these were found in under a second.
3 [3, 1, 2, 1, 3, 2]
4 [4, 1, 3, 1, 2, 4, 3, 2]
7 [7, 3, 6, 2, 5, 3, 2, 4, 7, 6, 5, 1, 4, 1]
8 [8, 3, 7, 2, 6, 3, 2, 4, 5, 8, 7, 6, 4, 1, 5, 1]
11 [11, 6, 10, 2, 9, 3, 2, 8, 6, 3, 7, 5, 11, 10, 9, 4, 8, 5, 7, 1, 4, 1]
12 [12, 10, 11, 6, 4, 5, 9, 7, 8, 4, 6, 5, 10, 12, 11, 7, 9, 8, 3, 1, 2, 1, 3, 2]
15 [15, 13, 14, 8, 5, 12, 7, 11, 4, 10, 5, 9, 8, 4, 7, 13, 15, 14, 12, 11, 10, 9, 6, 3, 1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 6]
16 [16, 14, 15, 9, 7, 13, 3, 12, 6, 11, 3, 10, 7, 9, 8, 6, 14, 16, 15, 13, 12, 11, 10, 8, 5, 2, 4, 1, 2, 1, 5, 4]
19 [19, 17, 18, 14, 8, 16, 9, 15, 6, 1, 13, 1, 12, 8, 11, 6, 9, 10, 14, 17, 19, 18, 16, 15, 13, 12, 11, 7, 10, 3, 5, 2, 4, 3, 2, 7, 5, 4]
20 [20, 18, 19, 15, 11, 17, 10, 16, 9, 5, 14, 1, 13, 1, 12, 5, 11, 10, 9, 15, 18, 20, 19, 17, 16, 14, 13, 12, 8, 4, 7, 3, 6, 2, 4, 3, 2, 8, 7, 6]
23 [23, 21, 22, 18, 16, 20, 12, 19, 11, 8, 17, 4, 1, 15, 1, 14, 4, 13, 8, 12, 11, 16, 18, 21, 23, 22, 20, 19, 17, 15, 14, 13, 10, 7, 9, 3, 5, 2, 6, 3, 2, 7, 5, 10, 9, 6]
24 [24, 22, 23, 19, 17, 21, 13, 20, 10, 8, 18, 4, 1, 16, 1, 15, 4, 14, 8, 10, 13, 12, 17, 19, 22, 24, 23, 21, 20, 18, 16, 15, 14, 11, 12, 7, 9, 3, 5, 2, 6, 3, 2, 7, 5, 11, 9, 6]
27 [27, 25, 26, 22, 20, 24, 17, 23, 12, 13, 21, 7, 4, 19, 1, 18, 1, 4, 16, 7, 15, 12, 14, 13, 17, 20, 22, 25, 27, 26, 24, 23, 21, 19, 18, 16, 15, 14, 11, 9, 10, 5, 2, 8, 3, 2, 6, 5, 3, 9, 11, 10, 8, 6]
28 [28, 26, 27, 23, 21, 25, 18, 24, 15, 13, 22, 10, 6, 20, 1, 19, 1, 3, 17, 6, 16, 3, 10, 13, 15, 18, 21, 23, 26, 28, 27, 25, 24, 22, 20, 19, 17, 16, 14, 12, 9, 7, 11, 4, 2, 5, 8, 2, 4, 7, 9, 5, 12, 14, 11, 8]
31 [31, 29, 30, 26, 24, 28, 21, 27, 18, 16, 25, 13, 11, 23, 6, 22, 5, 1, 20, 1, 19, 6, 5, 17, 11, 13, 16, 18, 21, 24, 26, 29, 31, 30, 28, 27, 25, 23, 22, 20, 19, 17, 15, 12, 14, 9, 10, 2, 3, 4, 2, 8, 3, 7, 4, 9, 12, 10, 15, 14, 8, 7]
32 [32, 30, 31, 27, 25, 29, 22, 28, 19, 17, 26, 13, 11, 24, 6, 23, 5, 1, 21, 1, 20, 6, 5, 18, 11, 13, 16, 17, 19, 22, 25, 27, 30, 32, 31, 29, 28, 26, 24, 23, 21, 20, 18, 16, 15, 12, 14, 9, 10, 2, 3, 4, 2, 8, 3, 7, 4, 9, 12, 10, 15, 14, 8, 7]
35 [35, 33, 34, 30, 28, 32, 25, 31, 22, 20, 29, 17, 14, 27, 10, 26, 5, 6, 24, 1, 23, 1, 5, 21, 6, 10, 19, 14, 18, 17, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30, 33, 35, 34, 32, 31, 29, 27, 26, 24, 23, 21, 19, 18, 16, 13, 15, 12, 9, 4, 2, 11, 3, 2, 4, 8, 3, 7, 9, 13, 12, 16, 15, 11, 8, 7]
36 [36, 34, 35, 31, 29, 33, 26, 32, 23, 21, 30, 17, 14, 28, 10, 27, 5, 6, 25, 1, 24, 1, 5, 22, 6, 10, 20, 14, 19, 17, 18, 21, 23, 26, 29, 31, 34, 36, 35, 33, 32, 30, 28, 27, 25, 24, 22, 20, 19, 18, 16, 13, 15, 12, 9, 4, 2, 11, 3, 2, 4, 8, 3, 7, 9, 13, 12, 16, 15, 11, 8, 7]
40 [40, 38, 39, 35, 33, 37, 30, 36, 27, 25, 34, 22, 20, 32, 17, 31, 13, 11, 29, 7, 28, 3, 1, 26, 1, 3, 24, 7, 23, 11, 13, 21, 17, 20, 22, 25, 27, 30, 33, 35, 38, 40, 39, 37, 36, 34, 32, 31, 29, 28, 26, 24, 23, 21, 19, 16, 18, 15, 12, 4, 6, 14, 2, 5, 4, 2, 10, 6, 9, 5, 8, 12, 16, 15, 19, 18, 14, 10, 9, 8]
43 [43, 41, 42, 38, 36, 40, 33, 39, 30, 28, 37, 25, 23, 35, 20, 34, 16, 14, 32, 5, 31, 8, 6, 29, 2, 5, 27, 2, 26, 6, 8, 24, 14, 16, 22, 20, 23, 25, 28, 30, 33, 36, 38, 41, 43, 42, 40, 39, 37, 35, 34, 32, 31, 29, 27, 26, 24, 22, 21, 19, 17, 15, 18, 12, 7, 1, 3, 1, 13, 4, 3, 11, 7, 10, 4, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 18, 13, 11, 10, 9]
44 [44, 42, 43, 39, 37, 41, 34, 40, 31, 29, 38, 26, 24, 36, 20, 35, 16, 14, 33, 5, 32, 8, 6, 30, 2, 5, 28, 2, 27, 6, 8, 25, 14, 16, 23, 20, 22, 24, 26, 29, 31, 34, 37, 39, 42, 44, 43, 41, 40, 38, 36, 35, 33, 32, 30, 28, 27, 25, 23, 22, 21, 19, 17, 15, 18, 12, 7, 1, 3, 1, 13, 4, 3, 11, 7, 10, 4, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 18, 13, 11, 10, 9]
52 [52, 50, 51, 47, 45, 49, 42, 48, 39, 37, 46, 34, 32, 44, 29, 43, 26, 24, 41, 20, 40, 16, 14, 38, 7, 9, 36, 2, 35, 3, 2, 33, 7, 3, 31, 9, 30, 14, 16, 28, 20, 27, 24, 26, 29, 32, 34, 37, 39, 42, 45, 47, 50, 52, 51, 49, 48, 46, 44, 43, 41, 40, 38, 36, 35, 33, 31, 30, 28, 27, 25, 23, 21, 19, 22, 15, 8, 6, 1, 18, 1, 17, 4, 5, 6, 8, 13, 4, 12, 5, 11, 15, 10, 19, 21, 23, 25, 22, 18, 17, 13, 12, 11, 10]
55 [55, 53, 54, 50, 48, 52, 45, 51, 42, 40, 49, 37, 35, 47, 32, 46, 29, 27, 44, 23, 43, 20, 17, 41, 10, 11, 39, 4, 38, 8, 2, 36, 4, 2, 34, 10, 33, 11, 8, 31, 17, 30, 20, 23, 28, 27, 29, 32, 35, 37, 40, 42, 45, 48, 50, 53, 55, 54, 52, 51, 49, 47, 46, 44, 43, 41, 39, 38, 36, 34, 33, 31, 30, 28, 26, 24, 25, 21, 19, 16, 22, 9, 14, 6, 3, 18, 7, 5, 3, 15, 6, 9, 13, 5, 7, 12, 16, 14, 19, 21, 24, 26, 25, 22, 18, 15, 13, 1, 12, 1]
63 [63, 61, 62, 58, 56, 60, 53, 59, 50, 48, 57, 45, 43, 55, 40, 54, 37, 35, 52, 32, 51, 29, 27, 49, 23, 20, 47, 17, 46, 12, 9, 44, 10, 3, 42, 2, 41, 3, 2, 39, 9, 38, 12, 10, 36, 17, 20, 34, 23, 33, 27, 29, 32, 35, 37, 40, 43, 45, 48, 50, 53, 56, 58, 61, 63, 62, 60, 59, 57, 55, 54, 52, 51, 49, 47, 46, 44, 42, 41, 39, 38, 36, 34, 33, 31, 28, 30, 25, 26, 22, 19, 8, 18, 24, 11, 6, 4, 21, 5, 7, 8, 4, 6, 16, 5, 15, 11, 7, 13, 14, 19, 18, 22, 25, 28, 26, 31, 30, 24, 21, 16, 15, 13, 1, 14, 1]
64 [64, 62, 63, 59, 57, 61, 54, 60, 51, 49, 58, 46, 44, 56, 41, 55, 38, 36, 53, 33, 52, 29, 27, 50, 23, 20, 48, 17, 47, 12, 9, 45, 10, 3, 43, 2, 42, 3, 2, 40, 9, 39, 12, 10, 37, 17, 20, 35, 23, 34, 27, 29, 32, 33, 36, 38, 41, 44, 46, 49, 51, 54, 57, 59, 62, 64, 63, 61, 60, 58, 56, 55, 53, 52, 50, 48, 47, 45, 43, 42, 40, 39, 37, 35, 34, 32, 31, 28, 30, 25, 26, 22, 19, 8, 18, 24, 11, 6, 4, 21, 5, 7, 8, 4, 6, 16, 5, 15, 11, 7, 13, 14, 19, 18, 22, 25, 28, 26, 31, 30, 24, 21, 16, 15, 13, 1, 14, 1]
67 [67, 65, 66, 62, 60, 64, 57, 63, 54, 52, 61, 49, 47, 59, 44, 58, 41, 39, 56, 36, 55, 33, 30, 53, 26, 24, 51, 20, 50, 13, 11, 48, 12, 3, 46, 4, 45, 3, 7, 43, 4, 42, 11, 13, 40, 12, 7, 38, 20, 37, 24, 26, 35, 30, 34, 33, 36, 39, 41, 44, 47, 49, 52, 54, 57, 60, 62, 65, 67, 66, 64, 63, 61, 59, 58, 56, 55, 53, 51, 50, 48, 46, 45, 43, 42, 40, 38, 37, 35, 34, 32, 29, 31, 28, 25, 23, 21, 27, 18, 9, 10, 2, 5, 22, 2, 8, 6, 19, 5, 9, 17, 10, 16, 6, 8, 14, 15, 18, 21, 23, 25, 29, 28, 32, 31, 27, 22, 19, 17, 16, 14, 1, 15, 1]
72 [72, 70, 71, 67, 65, 69, 62, 68, 59, 57, 66, 54, 52, 64, 49, 63, 46, 44, 61, 41, 60, 38, 36, 58, 33, 30, 56, 27, 55, 23, 20, 53, 17, 14, 51, 10, 50, 5, 3, 48, 4, 47, 3, 5, 45, 4, 10, 43, 14, 42, 17, 20, 40, 23, 39, 27, 30, 37, 33, 36, 38, 41, 44, 46, 49, 52, 54, 57, 59, 62, 65, 67, 70, 72, 71, 69, 68, 66, 64, 63, 61, 60, 58, 56, 55, 53, 51, 50, 48, 47, 45, 43, 42, 40, 39, 37, 35, 32, 34, 31, 28, 26, 24, 22, 29, 15, 13, 8, 6, 25, 7, 12, 9, 11, 21, 6, 8, 19, 7, 18, 13, 15, 9, 16, 12, 11, 22, 24, 26, 28, 32, 31, 35, 34, 29, 25, 21, 19, 18, 2, 16, 1, 2, 1]
75 [75, 73, 74, 70, 68, 72, 65, 71, 62, 60, 69, 57, 55, 67, 52, 66, 49, 47, 64, 44, 63, 41, 39, 61, 36, 33, 59, 30, 58, 26, 24, 56, 20, 17, 54, 14, 53, 5, 6, 51, 7, 50, 3, 5, 48, 6, 3, 46, 7, 45, 14, 17, 43, 20, 42, 24, 26, 40, 30, 33, 38, 36, 39, 41, 44, 47, 49, 52, 55, 57, 60, 62, 65, 68, 70, 73, 75, 74, 72, 71, 69, 67, 66, 64, 63, 61, 59, 58, 56, 54, 53, 51, 50, 48, 46, 45, 43, 42, 40, 38, 37, 35, 32, 29, 34, 28, 25, 23, 31, 12, 15, 9, 11, 27, 21, 4, 13, 10, 8, 22, 4, 9, 12, 19, 11, 18, 15, 8, 10, 16, 13, 23, 25, 29, 28, 32, 21, 35, 37, 34, 31, 27, 22, 19, 18, 2, 16, 1, 2, 1]
76 [76, 74, 75, 71, 69, 73, 66, 72, 63, 61, 70, 58, 56, 68, 53, 67, 50, 48, 65, 45, 64, 42, 40, 62, 36, 33, 60, 30, 59, 26, 24, 57, 20, 17, 55, 14, 54, 5, 6, 52, 7, 51, 3, 5, 49, 6, 3, 47, 7, 46, 14, 17, 44, 20, 43, 24, 26, 41, 30, 33, 39, 36, 38, 40, 42, 45, 48, 50, 53, 56, 58, 61, 63, 66, 69, 71, 74, 76, 75, 73, 72, 70, 68, 67, 65, 64, 62, 60, 59, 57, 55, 54, 52, 51, 49, 47, 46, 44, 43, 41, 39, 38, 37, 35, 32, 29, 34, 28, 25, 23, 31, 12, 15, 9, 11, 27, 21, 4, 13, 10, 8, 22, 4, 9, 12, 19, 11, 18, 15, 8, 10, 16, 13, 23, 25, 29, 28, 32, 21, 35, 37, 34, 31, 27, 22, 19, 18, 2, 16, 1, 2, 1]
83 [83, 81, 82, 78, 76, 80, 73, 79, 70, 68, 77, 65, 63, 75, 60, 74, 57, 55, 72, 52, 71, 49, 47, 69, 44, 42, 67, 39, 66, 36, 33, 64, 30, 27, 62, 23, 61, 17, 14, 59, 15, 58, 7, 4, 56, 5, 11, 54, 4, 53, 7, 5, 51, 14, 50, 17, 15, 48, 11, 23, 46, 27, 45, 30, 33, 43, 36, 39, 42, 44, 47, 49, 52, 55, 57, 60, 63, 65, 68, 70, 73, 76, 78, 81, 83, 82, 80, 79, 77, 75, 74, 72, 71, 69, 67, 66, 64, 62, 61, 59, 58, 56, 54, 53, 51, 50, 48, 46, 45, 43, 41, 38, 40, 37, 34, 32, 29, 26, 35, 25, 16, 13, 24, 31, 8, 6, 3, 28, 12, 9, 3, 10, 6, 8, 22, 13, 21, 16, 20, 9, 19, 12, 10, 18, 26, 25, 29, 24, 32, 34, 38, 37, 41, 40, 35, 31, 28, 22, 21, 20, 19, 2, 18, 1, 2, 1]
84 [84, 82, 83, 79, 77, 81, 74, 80, 71, 69, 78, 66, 64, 76, 61, 75, 58, 56, 73, 53, 72, 50, 48, 70, 45, 43, 68, 39, 67, 36, 33, 65, 30, 27, 63, 23, 62, 17, 14, 60, 15, 59, 7, 4, 57, 5, 11, 55, 4, 54, 7, 5, 52, 14, 51, 17, 15, 49, 11, 23, 47, 27, 46, 30, 33, 44, 36, 39, 42, 43, 45, 48, 50, 53, 56, 58, 61, 64, 66, 69, 71, 74, 77, 79, 82, 84, 83, 81, 80, 78, 76, 75, 73, 72, 70, 68, 67, 65, 63, 62, 60, 59, 57, 55, 54, 52, 51, 49, 47, 46, 44, 42, 41, 38, 40, 37, 34, 32, 29, 26, 35, 25, 16, 13, 24, 31, 8, 6, 3, 28, 12, 9, 3, 10, 6, 8, 22, 13, 21, 16, 20, 9, 19, 12, 10, 18, 26, 25, 29, 24, 32, 34, 38, 37, 41, 40, 35, 31, 28, 22, 21, 20, 19, 2, 18, 1, 2, 1]
87 [87, 85, 86, 82, 80, 84, 77, 83, 74, 72, 81, 69, 67, 79, 64, 78, 61, 59, 76, 56, 75, 53, 51, 73, 48, 46, 71, 43, 70, 39, 36, 68, 33, 30, 66, 27, 65, 23, 17, 63, 14, 62, 16, 7, 60, 12, 3, 58, 4, 57, 3, 7, 55, 4, 54, 14, 17, 52, 12, 16, 50, 23, 49, 27, 30, 47, 33, 36, 45, 39, 44, 43, 46, 48, 51, 53, 56, 59, 61, 64, 67, 69, 72, 74, 77, 80, 82, 85, 87, 86, 84, 83, 81, 79, 78, 76, 75, 73, 71, 70, 68, 66, 65, 63, 62, 60, 58, 57, 55, 54, 52, 50, 49, 47, 45, 44, 42, 40, 41, 37, 35, 32, 38, 31, 28, 26, 24, 34, 8, 15, 9, 11, 6, 29, 13, 5, 10, 8, 25, 6, 9, 5, 22, 11, 21, 15, 20, 10, 13, 18, 19, 24, 26, 28, 32, 31, 35, 37, 40, 42, 41, 38, 34, 29, 25, 22, 21, 20, 18, 2, 19, 1, 2, 1]
95 [95, 93, 94, 90, 88, 92, 85, 91, 82, 80, 89, 77, 75, 87, 72, 86, 69, 67, 84, 64, 83, 61, 59, 81, 56, 54, 79, 51, 78, 48, 46, 76, 43, 40, 74, 36, 73, 33, 30, 71, 26, 70, 18, 15, 68, 17, 9, 66, 6, 65, 13, 14, 63, 4, 62, 6, 9, 60, 4, 15, 58, 18, 57, 17, 13, 55, 14, 26, 53, 30, 52, 33, 36, 50, 40, 49, 43, 46, 48, 51, 54, 56, 59, 61, 64, 67, 69, 72, 75, 77, 80, 82, 85, 88, 90, 93, 95, 94, 92, 91, 89, 87, 86, 84, 83, 81, 79, 78, 76, 74, 73, 71, 70, 68, 66, 65, 63, 62, 60, 58, 57, 55, 53, 52, 50, 49, 47, 45, 42, 39, 44, 38, 35, 32, 41, 31, 28, 34, 25, 37, 16, 12, 7, 11, 8, 3, 5, 10, 29, 3, 7, 27, 5, 8, 12, 11, 24, 16, 10, 23, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 28, 32, 31, 35, 39, 38, 42, 34, 45, 47, 44, 41, 37, 29, 27, 19, 24, 20, 23, 21, 2, 22, 1, 2, 1]
96 [96, 94, 95, 91, 89, 93, 86, 92, 83, 81, 90, 78, 76, 88, 73, 87, 70, 68, 85, 65, 84, 62, 60, 82, 57, 55, 80, 52, 79, 49, 46, 77, 43, 40, 75, 36, 74, 33, 30, 72, 26, 71, 18, 15, 69, 17, 9, 67, 6, 66, 13, 14, 64, 4, 63, 6, 9, 61, 4, 15, 59, 18, 58, 17, 13, 56, 14, 26, 54, 30, 53, 33, 36, 51, 40, 50, 43, 46, 48, 49, 52, 55, 57, 60, 62, 65, 68, 70, 73, 76, 78, 81, 83, 86, 89, 91, 94, 96, 95, 93, 92, 90, 88, 87, 85, 84, 82, 80, 79, 77, 75, 74, 72, 71, 69, 67, 66, 64, 63, 61, 59, 58, 56, 54, 53, 51, 50, 48, 47, 45, 42, 39, 44, 38, 35, 32, 41, 31, 28, 34, 25, 37, 16, 12, 7, 11, 8, 3, 5, 10, 29, 3, 7, 27, 5, 8, 12, 11, 24, 16, 10, 23, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 28, 32, 31, 35, 39, 38, 42, 34, 45, 47, 44, 41, 37, 29, 27, 19, 24, 20, 23, 21, 2, 22, 1, 2, 1]
For instructional purposes, here's the source code:
import java.util.*;
public class LangfordPairing {
static void langford(int N) {
BitSet bs = new BitSet();
bs.set(N * 2);
put(bs, N, new int[2 * N]);
}
static void put(BitSet bs, int n, int[] arr) {
if (n == 0) {
System.out.println(Arrays.toString(arr));
System.exit(0); // one is enough!
}
for (int i = -1, L = bs.length() - n - 1;
(i = bs.nextClearBit(i + 1)) < L ;) {
final int j = i + n + 1;
if (!bs.get(j)) {
arr[i] = n;
arr[j] = n;
bs.flip(i);
bs.flip(j);
put(bs, n - 1, arr);
bs.flip(i);
bs.flip(j);
}
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
langford(87);
}
}
Solutions for some N values are missing; they are known to require an abnormally large number of operations just to find the first solution by brute force.
Note that as mentioned, there are generally many solutions for any given N. For N = 7, there are 26 solutions:
[7, 3, 6, 2, 5, 3, 2, 4, 7, 6, 5, 1, 4, 1]
[7, 2, 6, 3, 2, 4, 5, 3, 7, 6, 4, 1, 5, 1]
[7, 2, 4, 6, 2, 3, 5, 4, 7, 3, 6, 1, 5, 1]
[7, 3, 1, 6, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 2, 6, 4, 2, 5]
[7, 1, 4, 1, 6, 3, 5, 4, 7, 3, 2, 6, 5, 2]
[7, 1, 3, 1, 6, 4, 3, 5, 7, 2, 4, 6, 2, 5]
[7, 4, 1, 5, 1, 6, 4, 3, 7, 5, 2, 3, 6, 2]
[7, 2, 4, 5, 2, 6, 3, 4, 7, 5, 3, 1, 6, 1]
[5, 7, 2, 6, 3, 2, 5, 4, 3, 7, 6, 1, 4, 1]
[3, 7, 4, 6, 3, 2, 5, 4, 2, 7, 6, 1, 5, 1]
[5, 7, 4, 1, 6, 1, 5, 4, 3, 7, 2, 6, 3, 2]
[5, 7, 2, 3, 6, 2, 5, 3, 4, 7, 1, 6, 1, 4]
[1, 7, 1, 2, 6, 4, 2, 5, 3, 7, 4, 6, 3, 5]
[5, 7, 1, 4, 1, 6, 5, 3, 4, 7, 2, 3, 6, 2]
[1, 7, 1, 2, 5, 6, 2, 3, 4, 7, 5, 3, 6, 4]
[2, 7, 4, 2, 3, 5, 6, 4, 3, 7, 1, 5, 1, 6]
[6, 2, 7, 4, 2, 3, 5, 6, 4, 3, 7, 1, 5, 1]
[2, 6, 7, 2, 1, 5, 1, 4, 6, 3, 7, 5, 4, 3]
[3, 6, 7, 1, 3, 1, 4, 5, 6, 2, 7, 4, 2, 5]
[5, 1, 7, 1, 6, 2, 5, 4, 2, 3, 7, 6, 4, 3]
[2, 3, 7, 2, 6, 3, 5, 1, 4, 1, 7, 6, 5, 4]
[4, 1, 7, 1, 6, 4, 2, 5, 3, 2, 7, 6, 3, 5]
[5, 2, 7, 3, 2, 6, 5, 3, 4, 1, 7, 1, 6, 4]
[3, 5, 7, 4, 3, 6, 2, 5, 4, 2, 7, 1, 6, 1]
[3, 5, 7, 2, 3, 6, 2, 5, 4, 1, 7, 1, 6, 4]
[2, 4, 7, 2, 3, 6, 4, 5, 3, 1, 7, 1, 6, 5]
N valuesThere is only a solution to this problem for pairs of numbers from 1-n where n = 4m or n = 4m-1 for any positive integer m.
Update:
For any solution the odd number pairs must occupy two odd-numbered or two even-numbered positions. The even number pairs must occupy one of each. When there are an odd number of odd pairs (eg. 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 - 3 odd pairs) there is no solution. There's no way to place the first number of each pair, without resulting in a clash when you try to place the second.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langford_pairing
Another update:
My answer was basically from Knuth. I've been thinking it through, though, and came up with the following on my own.
For any sequence {1 1 2 2 ... n n} there are, say, m odd pairs, n-m even pairs, and 2n positions in which to place them (i.e. n positions of each parity).
If you place the even pairs first then you use n-m even positions and n-m odd positions, thus you have m positions of each parity left in which to place the odd pairs.
The odd pairs must be placed in positions of the same parity. If m is even there is no problem because half the pairs will will be placed in odd positions, and half in even positions.
If m is odd, however, you can only place m-1 of the odd pairs, at which point you'll have one odd pair left to place, and one position of each parity. As the odd pair requires positions of the same parity there is no solution when m (the number of odd pairs) is odd.