Mathathon 2021 Queries and Issues

Post your queries and issues with the Mathathon 2021 here.

This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments should further the discussion of math and science.

When posting on Brilliant:

Use the emojis to react to an explanation, whether you're congratulating a job well done , or just really confused .
Ask specific questions about the challenge or the steps in somebody's explanation. Well-posed questions can add a lot to the discussion, but posting "I don't understand!" doesn't help anyone.
Try to contribute something new to the discussion, whether it is an extension, generalization or other idea related to the challenge.
Stay on topic — we're all here to learn more about math and science, not to hear about your favorite get-rich-quick scheme or current world events.

Markdown	Appears as
`italics` or `_italics_`	italics
`bold` or `__bold__`	bold
- bulleted - list	bulleted list
1. numbered 2. list	numbered list
Note: you must add a full line of space before and after lists for them to show up correctly
paragraph 1 paragraph 2	paragraph 1 paragraph 2
`[example link](https://brilliant.org)`	example link
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# I indented these lines # 4 spaces, and now they show # up as a code block. print "hello world"	# I indented these lines # 4 spaces, and now they show # up as a code block. print "hello world"

Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `$` ... `$` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$

Comments

Hi @Percy Jackson, When will the final problem be posted?

Atin Gupta - 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Posted. Sorry, I really messed up the schedule. All problems are here now.

A Former Brilliant Member - 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Okay... but IDK how to solve integrals. Can I take some help?

Atin Gupta - 2 months, 2 weeks ago

When will the results be posted??

Atin Gupta - 2 months ago

Still waiting, @Percy Jackson

Atin Gupta - 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Can we write on paper and send a scanned photo? Don't worry, my handwriting is legible :D

Atin Gupta - 3 months ago

Sure, anything is fine as long as is understandable. You will have to draw diagrams if necessary. Points will be awarded accordingly :)

A Former Brilliant Member - 3 months ago

Okay

Atin Gupta - 3 months ago

Also, can we code the answer??

Atin Gupta - 3 months ago

Yes, but a proper solution will gain more points.

A Former Brilliant Member - 3 months ago

Any extra credit for both?

Atin Gupta - 3 months ago

@Atin Gupta – Not unless your code solves the problem in a unique way. Then extra Ingenuity points will be given. Otherwise no.

A Former Brilliant Member - 3 months ago

@A Former Brilliant Member – Okay

Atin Gupta - 3 months ago

What is the estimated "portion"?

Atin Gupta - 3 months ago

I don't know things like integration, but I do know trigonometry, for example. So if I do not post solutions for such problems, is it fine?

Atin Gupta - 3 months ago

Yes, but you will lose those points. Questions will not be too difficult.

A Former Brilliant Member - 3 months ago

@A Former Brilliant Member – Okay

Atin Gupta - 3 months ago

Math. All math. Algebra, Geometry, Probability, Trigonometry, Calculus etc. Don't worry about the last two, most will be Algebra and Geometry problems. You can try the sample problem i posted :)

A Former Brilliant Member - 3 months ago

Yeah, I did that. But my solution was similar to yours, so I won't post one until I find a good way!

Atin Gupta - 3 months ago

I would love to participate but I’ve just found out about this today, is it too late ?

Ethan Hardcastle - 3 months ago

I am sorry but yes, the participant limit has been reached. I will ping you if anyone wants out of the contest :)

A Former Brilliant Member - 3 months ago

Reassure me : during the mathathon, answers posted by competitors won't be available for reading before April the $2^{nd}$ .
Is that true ?

Guillaume MARTIN - 3 months ago

No, the problems and solutions will be open to everyone on brilliant.org.

A Former Brilliant Member - 3 months ago

So, how do you prevent a competitor "to be inspired" by already posted explanation ?

Guillaume MARTIN - 3 months ago

@Guillaume Martin – I don't. If a competitor tries to give a similar answer to an already posted clever answer, they risk being caught because of the similarity, or risk losing clarity points due to not being able to replicate the answer. If they understand the concept clear enough to properly replicate a solution, shouldn't they be smart enough to think of it in the first place? That way, they risk losing even more points trying to copy ans answer, and that is why most won't try that. As such there is no way I can prevent others from seeing your solutions in a contest, unless I shared my email, which I would rather not :)

A Former Brilliant Member - 3 months ago

Reminder: if a member leaves, I can joint to mathathon

Elijah Frank - 3 months ago

👍

A Former Brilliant Member - 3 months ago

Did I miss something, or have only three problems been posted so far?

Morris Pearl - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Only three, I was a bit busy, I will post the rest today.

A Former Brilliant Member - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Hi, where have the problems been posted ??

Sundar R - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Only 3 have been posted so far. You can find them in my profile or in the Mathathon links page.

A Former Brilliant Member - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Where have they been posted ??

Sundar R - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

@Sundar R – The links to problems can be found here

A Former Brilliant Member - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

@A Former Brilliant Member – Thanks. When i asked the second time, i did not see any reply. Thanks once again !!

Sundar R - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

@Sundar R – Okay, no problem :)

A Former Brilliant Member - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Hi! With everything you have to do, I just wanted to point out that the problems 4-5 are on your profile but not on the Mathathon links page. Keep up the good work, you are amazing!!

Julie Éthier - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Yes, I will add them...

A Former Brilliant Member - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Hi Percy, I may not be available until this weekend :( if you are to give points before that time I may have to just quit halfway through :P

Jeff Giff - 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Today is the last day to post your solutions.

A Former Brilliant Member - 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Well you can give points now :) I’m posting the rest at the weekend :) I’ll just quit now :/

Jeff Giff - 2 months, 2 weeks ago

@Jeff Giff – Okay

A Former Brilliant Member - 2 months, 2 weeks ago

I would like to participate

Sundar R - 3 months ago

You have been added sir :)

A Former Brilliant Member - 3 months ago

Thanks

Sundar R - 3 months ago

@Percy Jackson In problem 7, is the angle given between the ground and the birds line of view or between the tree and the line of view.

Aditya Mittal - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Angle of depression from bird to the lion and elephant. Try to draw a diagram, it will be clearer.

A Former Brilliant Member - 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `\(` ... `\)` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$