advent_of_code/2017/day21-fractal_art/challenge.txt

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\--- Day 21: Fractal Art ---
----------
You find a program trying to generate some art. It uses a strange process that involves repeatedly enhancing the detail of an image through a set of rules.
The image consists of a two-dimensional square grid of pixels that are either on (`#`) or off (`.`). The program always begins with this pattern:
```
.#.
..#
###
```
Because the pattern is both `3` pixels wide and `3` pixels tall, it is said to have a *size* of `3`.
Then, the program repeats the following process:
* If the size is evenly divisible by `2`, break the pixels up into `2x2` squares, and convert each `2x2` square into a `3x3` square by following the corresponding *enhancement rule*.
* Otherwise, the size is evenly divisible by `3`; break the pixels up into `3x3` squares, and convert each `3x3` square into a `4x4` square by following the corresponding *enhancement rule*.
Because each square of pixels is replaced by a larger one, the image gains pixels and so its *size* increases.
The artist's book of enhancement rules is nearby (your puzzle input); however, it seems to be missing rules. The artist explains that sometimes, one must *rotate* or *flip* the input pattern to find a match. (Never rotate or flip the output pattern, though.) Each pattern is written concisely: rows are listed as single units, ordered top-down, and separated by slashes. For example, the following rules correspond to the adjacent patterns:
```
../.# = ..
.#
.#.
.#./..#/### = ..#
###
#..#
#..#/..../#..#/.##. = ....
#..#
.##.
```
When searching for a rule to use, rotate and flip the pattern as necessary. For example, all of the following patterns match the same rule:
```
.#. .#. #.. ###
..# #.. #.# ..#
### ### ##. .#.
```
Suppose the book contained the following two rules:
```
../.# => ##./#../...
.#./..#/### => #..#/..../..../#..#
```
As before, the program begins with this pattern:
```
.#.
..#
###
```
The size of the grid (`3`) is not divisible by `2`, but it is divisible by `3`. It divides evenly into a single square; the square matches the second rule, which produces:
```
#..#
....
....
#..#
```
The size of this enhanced grid (`4`) is evenly divisible by `2`, so that rule is used. It divides evenly into four squares:
```
#.|.#
..|..
--+--
..|..
#.|.#
```
Each of these squares matches the same rule (`../.# => ##./#../...`), three of which require some flipping and rotation to line up with the rule. The output for the rule is the same in all four cases:
```
##.|##.
#..|#..
...|...
---+---
##.|##.
#..|#..
...|...
```
Finally, the squares are joined into a new grid:
```
##.##.
#..#..
......
##.##.
#..#..
......
```
Thus, after `2` iterations, the grid contains `12` pixels that are *on*.
*How many pixels stay on* after `5` iterations?
Your puzzle answer was `179`.
\--- Part Two ---
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*How many pixels stay on* after `18` iterations?
Your puzzle answer was `2766750`.
Both parts of this puzzle are complete! They provide two gold stars: \*\*
At this point, all that is left is for you to [admire your Advent calendar](/2017).
If you still want to see it, you can [get your puzzle input](21/input).