Solution posting option in Brilliant

First of all, I must say that I am impressed by the changes and the new features that have been introduced in Brilliant. But I also found some changes to be unnecessary or rather irritating. For example, I recently saw that after I solve a problem, before writing my solution, I see the other solutions that are posted. As a result, many people can copy the solutions of others and make it look like theirs. I think that the old solution posting system was best. Well, this is my opinion but others may think differently. I would like to listen to the views of other people on this topic!!

Thanks.

#Brilliant #Solutions #Solutionwriting #SolutionDiscussions #SolutionEditing

Easy Math Editor

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
`> This is a quote`	This is a quote
# 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

The problem for me is the following. When I solved a problem on the old solution format all I would know is the number of solutions posted before I decide to post my own solution or enter the discussion. Writing up and checking a solution can be quite time consuming, so if a couple of solutions had already been posted and I believed my method to be fairly standard I would just click on enter discussion, often to find no solutions resembling my own. But the half hour or so it often takes to write a solution just isn't worth it if you think there is a high probability that a similar solution was already posted. Therefore I do believe that you need to be able to see the currently posted solutions before you start your own. But I also agree that this leads many people to copying, and the only way around that is to not show the currently posted solutions before you start writing your own. We have a problematic paradox. The only solution I can think of (and it's far from perfect) would be that brilliant provides another box (like the hashtags) when writing a solution where you state your vague method, to the extent of just puttting #casework or #generatingfunctions or #PIE. Then, these hashtags are what is visible to you before you start writing your own solution, which allows you to make a more educated guess on whether a solution similar to yours has been posted while not revealing the solutions themselves

Josh Rowley - 7 years, 3 months ago

Well, you have got a point. Your solution also seems good.

Ameya Salankar - 7 years, 3 months ago

I agree with you and I think there would be more originality and independent thinking if solutions were not shown before you wrote your own solution. Its nice to see when a bunch of people arrive at the same solution using different methods. Its good for someone who wasn't able to answer the question to see multiple approaches of attacking the question so they can pick out the on they think is most useful for them.

Cole Coupland - 7 years, 3 months ago

I understand what you say, but the new change is extremely good. Every system has pros and cons, but the thing is you cannot put worthy people into disadvantage just due to some copy-cats. Those who want the solutions to be collaborative and quality, won't do it. People need to understand not to copy and post solution unnecessarily, till Brilliant finds another way out (:-D) .

Upendra Singh - 7 years, 3 months ago

What I want to ask is what that copy cat will gain by wasting so much time copying the solution that has already been posted? He wouldn't be voted up since a similar solution exists.

Ameya Salankar - 7 years, 3 months ago

We made this change intentionally. I'm interested to hear what others think.

Silas Hundt Staff - 7 years, 3 months ago

If you write a problem, and you realize (embarrassingly) that the answer you typed was wrong, how do you change it? To get around this problem, I just left a note on the problem telling solvers how to 'fix' their solutions, but it can get a bit complicated.

TheKnee OfJustice - 7 years, 3 months ago

True story. Its annoying

Aman Jaiswal - 7 years, 3 months 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}`	$\boxed{123}$