Solve this equation for me

[Prime8]

Re: Solve this equation for me

And who takes Algebra II in the 9th grade? You must be a freakin' genius to be able to pull that **** off.

I took Algebra II and Pre-calculus in 9th grade. I wouldn't consider myself a genius (although many people who are terribad at math think I am). Like Leonid said, I'm bad at anything that isn't math or computer-science related. Even physics, which still involves quite a bit of math, is a struggle for me. It's more of understanding the concepts than solving the problems that eludes me.

Of course you will do better if you know what you're doing... but there are plenty of gunners (i.e. suckups/studybots) out there with high GPA's that don't know what they're doing and still wind up losing the interview. You'll also find plenty of non-4.0 students who are amazing. Again, GPA isn't everything.

I'm most likely going to end up being said 4.0 student. If I had to explain what I've learned or apply my knowledge in a real-life problem (which is presumably fair game in an interview), I'd choke.

Oh, and I actually knew the answer to the sphere problem you asked Leo earlier. I remember doing a very similar problem in my Discrete Computational Structures class. It'd probably take me a while to solve with multiple spheres though

[leonid]

Re: Solve this equation for me

This method guarantees maximum of nine drops:

Drop ball 1 from floor 37. If it breaks, we can drop remaining two balls at most eight times to figure out the answer,
because 36 = 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8.
Thus, we are dropping nine times in total.

If it doesn't break, drop ball 1 from floor 66. If it breaks, we can drop remaining two balls at most seven times,
because there are 1+2+3+4+5+6+7 = 28 floors in floor 38~65.
Hence, we dropped nine times in total here as well.

If it doesn't break, drop ball 1 from floor 88. If it breaks, we can drop remaining two balls at most six times,
because there are 1+2+3+4+5+6 = 21 floors in floor 67~87.
We drop nine times here, too.

If it still doesn't break, drop ball 1 from floor 100. If it doesn't break, then we knew the answer within four drops.
If it breaks, we can use the remaining two balls at most five times,
because 1+2+3+4+5 = 15 is more than the remaining eleven floors.
This also uses nine drops.

[stargroup]

Re: Solve this equation for me

http://www.usamts.org/Tests/USAMTSProblems_21_1.pdf

Problem 3

This is a very, very fascinating problem with a very, very cool solution.

Rubix I challenge you.

[iironiic]

Re: Solve this equation for me

i did the USAMTS contest last year and the year before D:

That question isn't too difficult, but we are not allowed to discuss the answers before the deadline. =/

[stargroup]

Re: Solve this equation for me

deadline's over

Tues. October 13, 3 PM eastern

and yes, question isn't too difficult, since you can use calculator and programming. I just want to know how rubix goes about solving this

[PsYcHoZeRoSk8eR]

Re: Solve this equation for me

F(X,Y,Z) = (X\wedge{Y}) \vee (\neg{X} \wedge{Z})
G(X,Y,Z) = (X\wedge{Z}) \vee (Y \wedge \neg{Z})
H(X,Y,Z) = X \oplus Y \oplus Z
I(X,Y,Z) = Y \oplus (X \vee \neg{Z})

[MrRubix]

Re: Solve this equation for me

That question is really easy -- hit me with something harder (PS you don't need a calculator or computer to do that problem)

leonid: Good job! That is my solution, too

[MrRubix]

Re: Solve this equation for me

Dude why didn't I hear about this contest I could do all of these problems without much issue -- next time there's a contest like this, someone tell me, lol. These problems are very Project Euler-esque.


I wonder if Leonid would enjoy Project Euler? It's a lot of fun... I kinda stopped playing it but I might get back into it.

[leonid]

Re: Solve this equation for me

I started solving Project Euler problems like 3 years ago, but I'm more into code golfing =P and I don't have time to dig in both.

[MrRubix]

Re: Solve this equation for me

I am so bad at code golfing I need to know a crapton more syntax before I can start playing codegolf more effectively.

[leonid]

Re: Solve this equation for me

I believe code golfing is one of the fastest ways to learn new languages lol

(but you'll never learn anything related to classes or networks etc i.e. those that will never be used in golfing =P)

[MrRubix]

Re: Solve this equation for me

WELL ROSETTA STONE CLAIMS TO BE THE FASTEST WAY TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE, GUARANTEEDDDDdd

[leonid]

Re: Solve this equation for me

btw I'm trying to solve that lattice point problem now..

I figured out it has at least 16 common lattice points, but I'm stuck at this point.

Also, I relied on using computer as well =/


edit: argh, I'll try it after the exam. I blame my brain

[AC1speakerbox]

Re: Solve this equation for me

Thread over.

lol

[MrRubix]

Re: Solve this equation for me

btw I'm trying to solve that lattice point problem now..

I figured out it has at least 16 common lattice points, but I'm stuck at this point.

Also, I relied on using computer as well =/


edit: argh, I'll try it after the exam. I blame my brain

recursive triangle logic will make things a lot easier imo

hint: you know how big each square is, and you know that the dimensions of the encapsulating triangles over the inscribed square must be 689 by 1320 by 1489