Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CAT4 Practice Questions and Study Guide

The state in the Tower of Hanoi problem when all discs are stacked on the left peg is described as the initial state. This is because the problem begins with all discs placed on one peg, typically referred to as the 'source' peg or left peg. In this scenario, the objective is to move all the discs to another peg, adhering to the rules of the game, which include only moving one disc at a time and never placing a larger disc on a smaller one.

The initial state serves as the starting point for solving the problem. It establishes the configuration of the discs before any moves are made. Recognizing this arrangement is crucial for understanding the problem's trajectory towards reaching the target configuration. Other states, like final or intermediate states, would represent configurations after some moves have been made or when the problem is nearly complete, but they do not describe the starting point of the process. Thus, the classification as the initial state is a fundamental aspect of the Tower of Hanoi problem.