IDEA: Problem Solving Contests

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10-17-2002
ygfperson

IDEA: Problem Solving Contests

how about this:

if this topic is picked, a problem is picked at random by me, and the contestants must write a program to solve it. i want the problem to be picked randomly at the moment the contest starts so no-one has a head start.

example
problem: given a grid of new-york-city intersections, find the fastest route to point x. (the grid will be in raw text, not as an image file, to make things easier)

that's not the best example i can come up with, but i hope i've conveyed the message. what do you all think?
10-17-2002
xds4lx

I can give you some problems from combinatorics (a very evil math) if you would like. If you want to write a program to solve one it takes a lot of thinking to come up w/ an algorithm
10-17-2002
Cshot

[inside joke]
Great idea! You must be a genius for coming up with this ;)
[/inside joke]
10-18-2002
vasanth

Well it is a good idea.. this is what i have been waitin for all these days.. problems where the solving skill is more important...
10-18-2002
ygfperson

Quote:

Originally posted by Cshot
[inside joke]
Great idea! You must be a genius for coming up with this ;)
[/inside joke]

i have to give credit where credit is due...

on to other news... :D

cshot came up with the idea in the flashdaddee chat room, and i know vasanth has been for this type of contest since the beginning.

Quote:

I can give you some problems from combinatorics (a very evil math) if you would like. If you want to write a program to solve one it takes a lot of thinking to come up w/ an algorithm

sure! just pm me any ideas you have for problems. (that goes for anyone out there)
10-18-2002
vasanth

i agree... ok we will surely send in idea.. I always believe that a programmmer should be first be good at solving problems that is understanding algorithms and finding algorithms for problems.. Coding and syntax is secondary.... Since if you forget syntax etc etc we can always llok at tutorials and books.. And programming style automatically evolves as we program... . And i think contests like the one you have said tests the actual skill of a programmer and his problem solving abilities rather than his ability to remember syntax... WAY TO GO.........
10-19-2002
oskilian

Well, I do hope it works in here... You have my problems if you want

Osk
10-19-2002
SilentStrike

Sounds interesting. Is it going to more of a real time thing? Like, everyone meets in some chat room (perhaps a reason for a cprog.com chatroom to actually takeoff?) and the problem is given at some predetermined so we can all meet up?
10-19-2002
ygfperson

for now i'm going to list the option with all the other ideas for voting on. (the option will only read 'problem solving' and not point to a specific idea, which will be selected at random).

then i give out the problem, probably the one osk has suggested to me, in the sign-up thread. it should go on like a normal contest from then on. i'd like to do at least 1 contest like this before we change anything else.

suggestions, though, are always welcome.