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#1 2010-06-24 04:24:45
- ZHero
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Selected Olympiad Questions!
1. A 50-digit natural number is completely divisible by 13. If all the digits, except the 26th digit, are 1 then find the 26th digit.
If two or more thoughts intersect with each other, then there has to be a point.
#2 2010-06-24 05:43:23
- mathsyperson
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
#3 2010-06-24 16:36:13
- ZHero
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
mathsyperson: WOW!! Catchy!
2.
If two or more thoughts intersect with each other, then there has to be a point.
#4 2010-06-24 19:08:36
- mathsyperson
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
#5 2010-06-24 20:00:12
- phrontister
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
1.
ZHero wrote:
mathsyperson: WOW!! Catchy!
I could only come up with .
Last edited by phrontister (2010-06-25 13:12:19)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#6 2010-06-25 15:03:13
- ZHero
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
phrontister: UNIQUE! It took me a while understanding why you divided the power of 10 by a 9 but got it now! Comps must be your Favorite Toys!! 
If two or more thoughts intersect with each other, then there has to be a point.
#7 2010-06-25 15:04:40
- ZHero
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mathsyperson: you saw it through again!
If two or more thoughts intersect with each other, then there has to be a point.
#8 2010-06-25 22:23:27
- phrontister
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ZHero wrote:
Comps must be your Favorite Toys!!
Yes...my scientific calculator and my pocket BASIC computer. I know where the buttons are...still trying to suss out what they do! 
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#9 2010-06-26 05:35:22
- ZHero
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
Seems like one day you'll be able to work upon them blindfolded!
3. Which is greater?
If two or more thoughts intersect with each other, then there has to be a point.
#10 2010-06-26 22:08:03
- ZHero
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
4. Suppose N is an n-digit positive integer such that
(a) all the n-digits are distinct.
(b) the sum of any three consecutive digits of N is divisible by 5.
How many such N's exist? What is the maximum value of 'n'?
If two or more thoughts intersect with each other, then there has to be a point.
#11 2010-06-27 10:33:32
- phrontister
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
Is 4. (a) correct, Zhero? I don't understand it as is, and you might have to explain it to me. I would have thought that "n" should read "N" there. Or maybe, "all of N's digits are distinct".
Also, I'm having trouble understanding Q3.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#12 2010-06-27 15:46:49
- ZHero
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You got it! In 4 (a), the actual statement "all the n-digits are different" actually means that "all digits of N are different".
You might have considered it as "1-digit N, 2-digit N, 7-digit N etc." where all "n"s are different. Instead, consider it as "4-digit N: 1234, 3456, 4567" where "all the 4-digits" of N are distinct.
For 3, its a Power Tower. 2 is raised by 1001 two's and 3 is raised by 1000 three's. You don't start counting from the "base" of the exponent in counting 1001/1000.
Thus, 2² has 2 raised to 2, 1 times.
Is the explanation good?
If two or more thoughts intersect with each other, then there has to be a point.
#13 2010-06-27 23:20:51
- phrontister
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
Thanks for the clarifications, ZHero. I think I get 'em - I think (sic).
4. "How many such N's exist?"
EDIT: a different output of the same solution. I saw a pattern in the original output and altered the program (BASIC), which now completes in a tiny fraction of the original time.
"What is the maximum value of 'n'?"
Last edited by phrontister (2010-06-30 04:39:41)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#14 2010-06-28 00:33:48
- ZHero
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Awesome job!
I'll need to verify the answer to first part and for the second part perhaps "n" is standing upon its head?
If two or more thoughts intersect with each other, then there has to be a point.
#15 2010-06-28 00:43:33
- phrontister
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ZHero wrote:
...for the second part perhaps "n" is standing upon its head?
Oops! Tricky blighter...doing handstands while I wasn't looking! I've stood him back up on his feet again!
Last edited by phrontister (2010-06-28 00:46:12)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#16 2010-07-01 11:53:43
- phrontister
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Hi ZHero!
Have you had a chance yet to verify my answer to the first part of Q4? Just curious as to whether or not I got it right. Ta.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#17 2010-07-03 01:25:03
- ZHero
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Hi phrontister!
Sorry for the delay! I did not forget bout it but just was a little bit messed up on somethings. I gave the problem to two of my workmates and they came up with as the total number of numbers possible. The latter one had missed on a few numbers!!
Your solution is flawless!
You Rock!
If two or more thoughts intersect with each other, then there has to be a point.
#18 2010-07-03 18:41:59
- phrontister
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Hi ZHero,
Thanks for that...I'd been hoping I'd got it right.
Do you know how your workmates came up with their results? Is there a good logical method I missed?
Last edited by phrontister (2010-07-03 18:44:42)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#19 2010-07-03 19:05:42
- ZHero
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phrontister wrote:
I'd been hoping I'd got it right.
By all means! When I asked my colleagues this questions and found a mismatch, I told them that the correct answer has to be for the reasons you can understand!
The method they used was....
If two or more thoughts intersect with each other, then there has to be a point.
#20 2010-07-04 21:57:58
- phrontister
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
Hi, ZHero! Thanks.
Finding n's maximum value is neat! Good logic...I'd never have thought of that. My method was to record the length of the highest-value number by comparing the results during the calcs.
Re finding all Ns...from your info I can't see how the initial 3/6 and 4/5 numbers are established before going cycling with them, but unless there's an astounding logical solution I guess I don't really have to know.
Nice problem, btw!
Last edited by phrontister (2010-07-04 21:58:28)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#21 2010-07-05 01:00:14
- ZHero
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
Hi phrontister!
There's no logical method known to me to find those 3, 4, 5 and 6 digit Ns. 
Your computer program is certainly better and faster too!
If two or more thoughts intersect with each other, then there has to be a point.
#23 2010-11-09 20:55:40
- bobbym
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
Hi nerissa22;
Welcome to the forum. Please post your math problems in the Help me section. You will get all the help you want.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
I am willing to wager that over 75% of the new words that appeared were nothing more than spelling errors that caught on.
#24 2012-04-25 15:48:08
- manpreet singh saluja
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
ZHero wrote:
Seems like one day you'll be able to work upon them blindfolded!
3. Which is greater?
please give a solution to this problem.
#25 2012-04-25 16:31:37
- bobbym
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Re: Selected Olympiad Questions!
Hi manpreet singh saluja;
So call 3^3 = a and 2^2^2 = b. Now,
call 3^a = a1 and 2^b = b1, now we can continue
Call 3^a1 = a2 and 2^b1 = b2. We can continue recursively like this until we work our way down the tower. So
Welcome to the forum!
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
I am willing to wager that over 75% of the new words that appeared were nothing more than spelling errors that caught on.